South Africa U-17 women’s national team coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo has admitted that Nigeria’s Flamingos were the superior side following her team’s 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier.
Reacting to the loss, Khumalo acknowledged her team’s naivety and mistakes, stating that the difference in quality was clear throughout the game.
“I’m disappointed, but for my girls, I’m happy. The second half we came back stronger.
“First 45 minutes we managed to create more chances than the opponent.”
Despite South Africa’s promising start, they struggled to convert chances, while Nigeria capitalized on theirs.
“We didn’t convert, that’s how, because the clear chances they created, they convert. Then we were one nil down, we go back.”
At halftime, she felt her team had played better but was initially overwhelmed by the Flamingos’ intensity.
“In the halftime, we were better than the opponent. M We came more creative, we trusted each other. Because in the first half I think they were under pressure.”
“They were afraid of playing against them. But they were far, far, far better than them instead of creating. That’s my challenge.”
Khumalo highlighted how Nigeria’s high pressing unsettled her team, leading to defensive lapses.
“In the first leg, the opponent (Nigeria’s Flamingos) were high on us, pressure on our first court, that’s how we fail to protect our goal.”
“That’s a challenge that we need to go and fix for the second round. If we can fix that, we can be a better team, we can score more goals.”
The South African coach remains hopeful for the second leg, believing her team showed positivity in the latter part of the match.
“We need to be more creative. The girls, yeah, in the first 45 minutes, they are the best. But in the second half, as I’m saying, I’m positive.”
“And that will take the next game to look at the second 45 minutes.”
While South Africa will look to improve their finishing and defensive organization when they face Nigeria in the return leg, hoping to overturn the deficit, the Flamingos will need to seal the win and take a step closer to another World Cup qualification.
