logo
Banyana pay the penalty in Wafcon bronze medal match defeat to Ghana

Banyana pay the penalty in Wafcon bronze medal match defeat to Ghana

TimesLIVE4 days ago
Banyana Banyana lost 4-3 to Ghana on penalties during their Africa Women's Cup of Nations (Wafcon) third and fourth place playoff match at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Friday.
They could not be separated after 90 minutes of largely uninspiring action which ended 1-1 where they missed numerous good scoring opportunities.
South Africa took the lead through Nonhlanhla Mthandi on the stroke of half-time but Ghana returned from the break with more determination and they equalised from the effort of Kusi Alice in the 67th minute.
During the shoot-outs, Banyana scored from the efforts of Linda Mothlalo, Bambanani Mbane, Jermaine Seoposenwe while Sibulele Holweni and Hilda Magaia could not find the back of the net.
Banyana goalkeeper Andile Dlamini made one save to deny Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah.
For Seoposenwe, her successful penalty kick was the last action for the national team as she had already announced retirement from international football before the tournament.
South Africa went to this tournament in Morocco as defending champions and failure to get a medal is going to put the spotlight on coach Desiree Ellis and they may be more retirements to follow Seoposenwe.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Banyana Banyana make low-key return to SA after WAFCON exit
Banyana Banyana make low-key return to SA after WAFCON exit

Eyewitness News

timean hour ago

  • Eyewitness News

Banyana Banyana make low-key return to SA after WAFCON exit

JOHANNESBURG - The Banyana Banyana squad made a low-key return to the country following their disappointing showing at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. There were no adoring supporters or any of the fanfare normally associated with South African teams returning home from competing on the global stage. Only a handful of friends and family were present to welcome the players home on Monday night and were outnumbered by the media contingent that was at OR Tambo International Airport for the team's arrival. Banyana went to the tournament as the reigning champions but finished in fourth place after a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Nigeria in the semi-finals and a penalty shootout defeat against Ghana in the bronze medal match. While the players were visibly flat and despondent and made a quick exit from the arrivals terminal, Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, faced questions from journalists about their campaign as well as her future with the national team. Ellis has been the subject of speculation since reports emerged before the tournament started that she had been working without a contract from SAFA for close to two years. There have been reports that Ellis would leave her position after WAFCON as well. She declined to comment on her current situation and what the next step for her would be. "I'm not going to comment. I've been taken out of context on numerous occasions and I think it's best I don't comment on that. Already, all over the media, what people are writing is not true. Certain things are not true. When people write, they must get the facts right, first of all. They write the wrong things. I'm not going to say anything, I'm saying 'No comment' purely because I don't want to be misquoted, because I've been badly misquoted during this tournament," said Ellis. Ellis did seem to indicate, however, that she did have her thoughts on the next tournament, which is the 2026 Women's AFCON, which will also be staged in Morocco. She said the first priority must be the qualifiers against DR Congo in October.

Simphiwe Dludlu bids farewell to SABC Sport after remarkable run
Simphiwe Dludlu bids farewell to SABC Sport after remarkable run

TimesLIVE

time3 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Simphiwe Dludlu bids farewell to SABC Sport after remarkable run

Respected broadcaster, former Banyana Banyana captain and one of the most prominent voices in South African football, Simphiwe Dludlu, has parted ways with SABC Sport, marking the end of a trailblazing chapter that began in 2022. Her final broadcast aired on SoccerZone on Monday, closing a remarkable journey that redefined what it means to lead, inspire and educate through sport. Since her debut on the national broadcaster, Simphiwe brought a rare blend of football intelligence, on-screen charisma and unwavering professionalism. Her presence on TV was informative and transformative. With every segment and appearance she cemented herself as a trusted authority in the game, beloved by viewers around the country. Reflecting on her impact, SABC Sport head Keletso Totlhanyo shared heartfelt praise. 'Beyond her on-screen brilliance, Simphiwe made a lasting impact behind the scenes. She was a mentor to many up-and-coming sports journalists and presenters, with a particular passion for empowering young women entering the industry. Her commitment to talent development and leadership in the newsroom has left a legacy that will continue to shape SABC Sport long after her departure.'

Captain Jane explains why Banyana failed to bring home a Wafcon medal
Captain Jane explains why Banyana failed to bring home a Wafcon medal

TimesLIVE

time6 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Captain Jane explains why Banyana failed to bring home a Wafcon medal

Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane has made an honest admission about their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) campaign in Morocco, where they failed to successfully defend their title. Banyana finished fourth after losing to Ghana in the third-place playoff match on Friday on penalties. They went to the tournament as defending champions, but had a disappointing tournament. Jane said they let the nation down. 'We are disappointed to be going home empty-handed. Throughout the tournament, it wasn't easy for the players and there were a lot of challenges on and off the pitch,' she said. 'We tried to put in a great performance, we tried to do our level best and we tried to retain the trophy as the main objective. But going home, there's a lot of work to be done and we are hoping in the next Wafcon we can do well, starting with the qualifiers.' No cheers. No welcome. Just cameras and questions. Banyana deserved more than silence. Let's not only show up when there's a trophy. #RespectBanyana #WeSeeYou #QueensDeserveBetter — Sports Daily (@SportsDailyZA) July 28, 2025 Among key factors that seemed to stand against Banyana in defence of their title were the less than ideal preparations, as yet another pay dispute with the South African Football Association before a major tournament resulted in a two-day pre-Wafcon strike in Morocco. The players reportedly returned to training out of a sense of duty, not because they felt the matter was resolved to their satisfaction. The absence of star attacker Thembi Kgatlane after her withdrawal from the tournament was another huge disadvantage. Jane feels the team — hugely experienced, but with some ageing campaigners and question marks over the depth of emerging talent — is in a transition phase. She said Banyana have many plus factors to take from their Wafcon campaign as they start to prepare for next year's edition, also in Morocco, where they hope to do better. 'Given the situation in camp, given the players we had and a lot of transition that was taking place in the team, we are hoping a lot of positives can be taken from the tournament and build on that. [WATCH] Banyana Banyana have returned home from Morocco following a disappointing stint at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. — SABC News (@SABCNews) July 28, 2025 'It's disappointing to sum up the tournament going home without a medal.' Midfielder Amogelang Motau has called for patience and echoed Jane's sentiments that Banyana are in a transition period. 'I will go back to the fact that it's a transition. You need time for different combinations so we can establish the chemistry of players who were able to qualify for the World Cup,' Motau said. 'These are the players who have been playing together for more than six years. We are talking about Fifi [Jane] and Linda [Motlhalo]. When I came into the midfield, I almost felt like I was lost because the two of them had so much chemistry, but with time I'm also getting there. 'I think with the group of players who are here, we have shown they have potential and are willing to get there. For me it's about playing more games together and attending more camps together, and I think things will fall into place. We need to be patient.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store