Bashin Upbeat for Nigeria Showdown

Banyana Banyana will adopt a ‘no fear’ approach’ when they face Africa’s No 1 ranked women’s football team Nigeria, in the semi-finals of the 8th CAF African Women Championship, to be played at the Nkoantoma Stadium in Bata on Wednesday, November 7. Kick-off 17h30 (18h30 SA time).

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have played the Nigerians twice this year in international friendly matches, which ended 1-all in Rustenburg and goal-less in Lagos.

Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza said: “The stage is set for an epic battle between the two sides and the power of African women’s football is clear, with all four of the top ranked teams on the continent in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and SA having made the semi-finals,” said Mkhonza.

“Safa and our team sponsor Sasol need to be thanked for the continued support given to the national team which has turned our players into heroines in the eyes of sports fans across our country.”

Experienced Banyana Banyana striker Portia Modise, who scored for SA in the international friendly played in Rustenburg on June 3, said the Nigerians fielded their full strength team during the international friendly matches against SA and Banyana Banyana can break the mental block to record their first-ever win over the Super Falcons.

“The Banyana Banyana players are so keen to get the win over Nigeria and give South African football fans lots to be proud of as the win will allow our team to make the final, which is one step further than what we achieved at the CAF African Women Championship 2010 held in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg,” said Modise.

Banyana Banyana finished as the bronze medallists at the African showpiece event two years ago, going down to Equatorial Guinea in the semi-finals, but beating Cameroon in the playoff match for third spot.

At this year’s tournament, the South Africans finished second on the Group A log, recording wins against Senegal (1-0) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (4-1) and went down (1-0) to the hosts, Equatorial Guinea in the opening fixture.

With Equatorial Guinea having topped the Group A log at this year’s tournament, the hosts will take on Cameroon in the second semi-final to be played in Malabo on Wednesday (07 November 2012, kick-off: 14h30).