After snatching the needed three points from defending champions Nigeria, coach of Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis believes proper planning and a tactical brilliance propelled her side to victory.

Losing in a final preparatory game against host nation, Ghana and coming up against defending champions Nigeria, it was apparently a daunting task for her side but a resolute and tactical Banyana Banyana side made mince meat of the super falcons.

Beaming with confidence, coach Ellis said her side lost concentration in the first half but executed the game plan in the second, resulting in the winning goal.

‘’One moment of lesser concentration in the first half but I said we needed to be phenomenal and excute the plan and even though they Nigeria had a lot of possession, they didn’t threaten us except for that one moment in the first half.

‘’Our passes were a bit astray and we spoke about it during the break that we needed to pass firmly and get into position. We always knew we had it in us and it took a moment of brilliance to decide the match and we planned really well’’.

‘’We gave this game all our best and we said the first game the the tournament is the most important and it’s bigger playing Nigeria so the victory is for us but also for the people back home’’.

Speedster Thembi Kgatlana replaced Busisiwe Ndimeni just past the hour mark as coach Ellis sought to run at the Nigeria defence.  The decisive moment came five minutes from the end when Kgatlana was set up by Jermaine Seoposenwe resulting in the match winning goal.

South Africa lies second in the group behind Zambia with 3 points as they wait to face Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday.

By Matilda Dimedo