Banyana skipper Andile Dlamini has warned her teammates about their opponents Nigeria, saying it will be a difficult encounter on Monday.
The 2018 finalists will battle out in a Group C encounter, with both teams eyeing three points to kickstart their campaign on a good note and positive attitude.
“We must completely focus and prepare because no one knows what the game brings. Nigeria is a strong team, champions, but we go there like soldiers, lions. We’ll hunt for South Africa. We need to be mentally prepared for the game. A game like this always has a plan. It gives you goosebumps,” Dlamini told the media.
“When it comes to Nigeria, it’s a game of fists, not physically, but it’s ‘I want to win it’, and I know for a fact they want to win it. We’ve been struggling in the past beating Nigeria, and finally, we won in Nigeria, but this is a different tournament, and we’re mentally prepared. This is going to be a game that will excite everyone like last night’s match [Saturday’s match].”
The team mentor Desiree Ellis is of the same view that their opener against current holders will be a difficult one.
“It’s going to be a tough encounter, and they are not champions in Africa for nothing. They’ve been consistent over a couple of years. That’s what we need to improve on, consistency in our performances to be able to be amongst the best.”
“The first game of the tournament is always the biggest game. It’s even bigger because Nigeria are champions; because it’s Nigeria, the game is bigger than it’s supposed to be. We want to start well,” she concluded.
Kickoff is 20h00 [SA time].
