Banyana Banyana’s hopes to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics were dashed after going down 1-0 on aggregate to Nigeria in the final round of qualifiers.
Lebohang Ramalepe earned a 100th national cap for Banyana and became the eleventh player to reach this feat.
The Super Falcons, who won the first-leg on Friday in Abuja, were calm in the opening stages amidst the numerous forays from the host and contained the aggregate advantage.
Banyana continued to do all the attacking through star player Thembi Kgatlana along with Jermaine Seoposenwe, Noxolo Cesane and captain Refiloe Jane but the Super Falcons were unfazed.
Ramalepe made herself big in defence in the last five minutes to halftime as a timeous outstretched-leg prevented the Super Falcons profiting from close-range.
The home team still pushed for the breakthrough in the second period, but the Nigerian team remained stubborn and closed down all their moves.
Coach Desiree Ellis refreshed personnel minutes into the break and saw Hildah Magaia come in for Nomvula Kgaole and Cesane pulled off for Sinoxolo Cesane.
Banyana began to up the intensity a few moments later but still enjoyed no clear-cut chances despite managing to stretch the defence and deliver balls to the area to little effect.
Sinoxolo very nearly made the breakthrough midway in the second half through a first-time shot following a forward pass, but it was kept out.
Both teams went at each other in the final quarter, as the game began to open up though indecisiveness with the final pass proved costly in the end.
The host were unable to get the decisive effort up top and ultimately saw the Super Falcons confirmed the aggregate win to advance to the Olympics in Paris later this year.
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