WAFCON 2022: South Africa gain boost by beating holders Nigeria in Group C opener

South Africa have had their confidence boosted by beating holders Nigeria 2-1 in their opening game at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), says coach Desiree Ellis.

Two quick-fire goals from Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia helped South Africa take control of the Group C encounter in Morocco, despite a late Rasheedat Ajibade consolation for the holders.

The South Africans largely controlled Monday's match but Banyana Banyana coach Ellis is not getting carried away with the victory and performance, which has been widely celebrated by their fans back home and on social media.

"It feels good. We had worked really hard towards this," Ellis told BBC Sport Africa.

"We knew when the draw came out how big the game was going to be. I think it was bigger than it was made out to be because it's Nigeria.

"It gives a lot of momentum, and that boost for the rest of the tournament. We're not going to get ahead of ourselves, because they're still a magnificent side, and we want to get out of the group and get to the quarter-finals."

Nigeria are record nine-time WAFCON champions and have won the past three tournaments, also losing to South Africa in their first game in 2018 before gaining revenge in the final in Ghana.

It proved to be Banyana Banyana's second win over Nigeria in the past ten months, having shocked the nine-time champions 4-2 in the Aisha Buhari Invitational Cup in Lagos.

Ellis added that the result in Nigeria last September gave them confidence heading into their WAFCON meeting and set the tone for their approach in Rabat.

"We needed to get that little bit of belief in us. Playing away in Nigeria and getting such a fantastic victory really pushed the players to a different level," she added.

"We kept showing what is possible, what we can do if you bring a similar performance. We brought an even better performance this time around."

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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