Banyana Banyana got their COSAFA Women’s Championship off to a winning start in Gqeberha on Tuesday, 22 October 2024. The South Africans won 1-0 against Namibia in their opening match of the competition.
The home side’s inexperience showed as they failed to score from their chances created. A good goal-scoring opportunity fell to Keisha Hendricks in the first half but she couldn’t find the back of the net. However, a short while later she did end up scoring, only for the goal to be flagged for offside.
Meanwhile, their opponents were also putting in some good plays, star Namibian player Zenatha Coleman showed her skill as she set up Irene Kooper but it didn’t result in a goal.
It was again the combination of Coleman and Kooper who came agonisingly close to scoring but again it didn’t materialise.
Banyana, however, went on the counter-attack immediately after Namibia’s near chance to finally score the first goal of the match. Player of the match Isabella Ludwig set up Tshegofatso Motlogelwa’s whose late strike secured South Africa’s win in the 84th minute.
Speaking in a video on the COSAFA Media X page, coach Maud Khumalo says they knew this fixture was going to test them.
“We knew that Namibia is a strong team because we played against them with the U20s, and then we also played with them when they were preparing for Switzerland. I knew that they had a strong team, a very physical, hard-running team.”
Banyana Banyana Head Coach, Nombuso Maud Khumalo
“Our game plan was to prepare, to play to our strengths, meaning we keep the ball and not allow not allow (Zenatha) Coleman to get a chance to score because she was our target player. We planned our game around her so that we blocked passes to her to that’s why she was one from this side to the other side. We were very aware of what Namibia is capable of, and we knew it was not going to be an easy game.”
South Africa is second in their group after that victory while Namibia is third. It is Eswatini who top the group thanks to their 6-0 win over the Seychelles.
In some tournament news, the recent heavy rains in the Gqeberha has seen extensive water damage at the Gelvandale Stadium where matches were to be played. The fixtures can’t be played at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium as there are other events taking place at the Stadium.
The matches will now go ahead at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium and Madibaz Stadium at the Nelson Mandela University.
Banyana Banyana Starting XI against Namibia at the COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha
1. Jessica Williams (GK)
3. Sikelelwa Mhlanga
4. Ntando Phahla
5. Yolanda Nduli
6. Thalea Lauren Smidt (C)
8. Isabella Alexa Ludwig
9. Tshogofatso Motlogelwa
11. Kesha Hendricks
12. Tanna Hollis
17. Sinamile Mkhwanazi
18. Shannon Macomo
Coach: Nombuso Maud Khumalo
Fixtures and Results of the COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha from 22 October to 2 November 2024
Tuesday, 22 October
Group A
Eswatini 6-0 Seychelles
South Africa 1-0 Namibia
Wednesday, 23 October
Group B
12h00: Madagascar vs Mauritius, Wolfson Stadium
15h00: Malawi vs Botswana, Wolfson Stadium
Thursday, 24 October
Group C
12h00: Zambia vs Angola, Wolfson Stadium
Group D
15h00: Mozambique vs Zimbabwe, Wolfson Stadium
Friday, 25 October
Group A
12h00: Namibia vs Seychelles, Wolfson Stadium
15h00: South Africa vs Eswatini, Wolfson Stadium
Saturday, 26 October
Group B
12h00 Botswana vs Mauritius, Madibaz Stadium
15h00 Malawi vs Madagascar, Madibaz Stadium
Sunday, 27 October
Group C
12h00 Angola vs Comoros, Madibaz Stadium
Group D
15h00 Zimbabwe vs Lesotho, Madibaz Stadium
Monday, 28 October
Group B
12h00: Madagascar vs Botswana, Madibaz Stadium
12h00 Mauritius vs Malawi, Madibaz Stadium
Group A
15h00: Eswatini vs Namibia, Madibaz Stadium
15h00: South Africa vs Seychelles, Madibaz Stadium
Tuesday, 29 October
Group C
12h00: Zambia vs Comoros, Madibaz Stadium
Group D
15h00: Mozambique vs Lesotho, Madibaz Stadium
Thursday, 31 October
Semi-Finals TBC
Saturday, 2 November
Final TBC
Photo caption: Banyana Banyana got their COSAFA Women’s Championship off to a winning start when the South Africans narrowly beat Namibia in their opening match of the competition, in Gqeberha on Tuesday, 22 October, 2024. All Photos: COSAFA Media
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