Sasol Banyana Banyana suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Namibia in a gripping final of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday.
The South Africans came into the highly anticipated clash brimming with confidence after edging Zimbabwe 4-2 on penalties in their semi-final encounter. With the Polokwane crowd firmly behind them, Banyana were determined to lift the trophy on home soil.
The final proved to be an intense and hard-fought battle from the first whistle, with both sides showing resilience and hunger. South Africa broke the deadlock in the 38th minute through Ntabiseng Majiya, who calmly found the back of the net to send the home supporters into celebration, however Namibia responded strongly after the break, equalising in the 54th minute to set up a tense and nail-biting finish. With neither side willing to give an inch, the encounter went into extra time, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Namibia capitalised in the additional period, netting the decisive goal to seal a 2-1 victory.
Reflecting on the game, Coach Desiree Ellis said the team had shown immense courage throughout the tournament and never backed down against any of their opponents. She acknowledged that finals are always challenging and that they were fully aware of the task at hand. Although they created enough opportunities on the day, she conceded that the better team won. We are proud of the players’ efforts and believe that the tournament served as valuable preparation providing an important platform for the newer players to gain experience and grow in confidence” she added
Nozipho Mlambo, Sasol Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorships, praised the team’s fighting spirit saying, “We are incredibly proud of the girls. The team left their hearts on the field and showed what it truly means to rise to the occasion when representing South Africa. We are especially encouraged by the confidence and quality shown by the younger players, who stepped up and proved that the future of this team is in strong hands. At Sasol, we remain proud to stand behind this group as they continue to fuel belief across the nation.
While the trophy may have slipped away, Banyana Banyana once again demonstrated their character, determination and unwavering passion for the badge, leaving Polokwane fans proud of their effort and spirit.
