Banyana Qualify for African Champs

Banyana Banyana came out tops in a punishing match against Zimbabwe’s
Mighty Warriors, winning the return leg of their African Women’s Championships qualifier
2-nil at the Caledonian Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday, bringing elation to
the boisterous crowd, which featured strong support for both teams.

Both sides displayed signs of nerves in the first half, as
too much haste often prevented deserved goals, but the home side gained a
comfortable dominance as the opportunity for the Warriors to overcome Banyana’s
first-leg 4-1 advantage became increasingly remote.

The Mighty Warriors missed two golden opportunities to take
an early lead inside the opening five minutes, as Phindile Nkosi easily cleared
weak shots on goal, but Banyana retaliating with speed, causing the visitors
some discomfort early on.

Banyana were strong upfront, forcing two corners in the
opening 15 minutes, but had to remain on top alert for quick counter-attacks by
the Warriors, who caused regular concern for the defenders.

A clear goal beckoned for Zandile Ndlovu in the 25th
minute, but a scorching shot off her right boot was fended off on instinct by
the keeper to save a certain goal, when she found herself directly in the
ball’s path. Ndlovu beat the defender again two minutes later, only to squeeze
the ball marginally wide for a goal kick.

Nothando Vilikazi hit the cross-bar from a free kick just
outside the box in the 32nd minute when Banyana were awarded a free kick from
the Warriors’ defenders’ dangerous play. The South African defence was under
pressure right away, when Janine Louw was brought down by a vicious kick inside
the South African box.

Chido Zingirai replaced Zimbabwe’s starting keeper just
before half time, when an in-goal collision once again robbed Ndlovu, who was inches
away from opening the score for Banyana, but the two teams went into half-time
without either team scoring, and Banyana would have been disappointed not to
have scored from their greater possession and opportunities.

Noko Matlou pushed another opportunity inches wide of the
goal past a Zimbabwean scrambling keeper to open the action in the second half,
and her break gave impetus to the South African cause, as they settled down to
play a more controlled game.

The break-through came when an accurate header by early
second-half substitute Nomthandazo Kubheka evaded the advancing keeper in the
64th minute, and injecting spirit into the local team, with two more attempts
in the next two minutes bringing further pressure on the Warriors.

A beautiful right-boot strike by Hlengiwe Ngwane from a
throw-in in the 75th minute to double the advantage took the wind out of Zimbabwe’s sails, and tired legs started to show
in despondent faces, as Banyana shooters started taking snap strikes at the Zimbabwe
goal.

In a turn-about, Zimbabwe hit the cross-bar in the
77^th minute in their first dangerous move for some time, and the
Warriors captain just sent lob just over the cross-bar in the 83rd minute, but
the momentum was with the South African national women’s team, who played with
increasing assurance as the minutes wore down.

When the whistle brought an end to the qualifier
tournament, Banyana had qualified for the 6th African Women Championships to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea
in November courtesy of a 6-1 aggregate,
a tournament which the senior women’s side has never failed to qualify for.