Match 1
In the first encounter, Sasol Banyana Banyana secured a 1-0 victory over neighbouring country, Lesotho in their first international friendly match at the University of Johannesburg, Soweto Campus on Saturday, 22 February. The younger Banyana Banyana squad started slow, but gained momentum in the second half, pressing forward and creating more attacking opportunities. Their efforts paid off when they converted a penalty by Nobahle Mdelwa, to give Banyana Banyana the lead.
Coach Ellis is using these friendlies to prepare for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in July and creating opportunity for a younger generation of players.
“There were some good moments, and there were some not so good moments. But I think the not so good moments came from a lack of movement off the ball because when we had the movement, we could move the ball around, and when we did that, we looked good,” Dr Ellis said.
“I thought that if we moved a little bit more, especially the two wingers, who were very stagnant up front, they didn’t give us a lot, especially in the first half. The minute they dropped deeper, we were able to play, right? When we lost the ball, they didn’t help us there either. But I thought we had control. At times, it’s not our game to play long, but, you know, when they can’t find anyone, that’s what they do.
“But happy with what we did this week. There were some things that we worked on that worked, and there were some things that didn’t work. But as I said, it is a brief period with a young group and we wanted them to play. We said, let’s just go out and play.”
Match 2
In the second encounter, the Sasol sponsored Banyana Banyana secured a well-fought 2-0 victory over Lesotho in their second friendly match, displaying heart and determination from start to finish. The team struck early, netting their first goal in the first half, and returned in the second half with a renewed drive, securing their second goal to seal the win.
Coach Desiree Ellis opted for a younger squad for these friendlies, providing opportunities for emerging talent to shine. Among them was Mavis Maiacane, a standout player from the 2024 Sasol League National Championships. The Mpumalanga-born rising star, who plays for Super Strikers, was named Player of the Tournament at the Sasol League and was seen as the “The Next Gem” (New Talent). In her debut performance, Mavis displayed resilience and confidence, never shying away from proving her abilities on the field.
Speaking on the younger team’s performance, Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorship, said “The energy we’ve observed in these young players is truly inspiring. They’ve demonstrated significant potential, and we remain optimistic that increased international exposure will propel them to even greater levels of excellence.”
As Banyana Banyana prepares for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), in Morrocco, later this year, they will continue to play more friendlies, strengthening their cohesion and building momentum to come out even stronger.
