Latest news with #BambananiMbane
IOL News
a day ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Ellis stands by team choices after Banyana Banyana's draw with Tanzania
BANYANA Banyana stars Bambanani Mbane, Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia were left with more questions after they drew with Tanzania on Friday night. | BackpagePix Image: BACKPAGEPIX Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has defended her decision to rotate the starting line-up after a 1-1 draw with Tanzania, insisting her selections were good enough to win the match. The result, played at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco, on Friday night, means South Africa remain top of Group C on goal difference ahead of Mali — both sides sitting on four points — but a win would have secured qualification to the knockout stages with a game to spare. The defending champions were shocked in the 24th minute when Tanzania captain Opa Clement gave the Twiga Stars the lead. Banyana responded in the second half with an equaliser from Bambanani Mbane, but it wasn't enough to secure all three points. Ellis' decision to make four changes to the starting line-up that defeated Ghana 2-0 in the opener raised eyebrows. Most notably, she dropped in-form goalkeeper Andile Dlamini in favour of Kaylin Swart. Swart cost us in the World Cup, and she's going to cost us again today 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 — Dr Phillips🇿🇦 (@Phillip22123860) July 11, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ She also introduced Lonathemba Mhlongo, Siyabulela Holweni and Kgaelebane Mohlakoana in place of Tiisetso Makhubela, Amogelang Motau and Lebohang Ramalepe. Despite the public scrutiny, Ellis was clear that she stood by her choices. 'We had a good enough team to get a result, they scored early, and we had a chance to score before they could – we didn't put it away, it is the nature of the game,' said Ellis. She acknowledged the missed opportunity to secure early qualification but praised her side's fighting spirit after going behind. 'We didn't get the result we wanted but we are still in it. I thought the comeback was good, we could have won it as we had a couple of chances, but that's how the game goes.' 'We said before the match that no game is easy, we saw how Nigeria scored in the last minute, that's how difficult the games are going to be, but you have to take your chances. 'We felt if we get the three points we would go through to the next round already, but it was not to be, there is still some more work to be done.' 🏆 𝕎𝔸𝔽ℂ𝕆ℕ 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜 🏆 🗣️ "𝚆𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚐𝚎𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍" Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis reacting to their 1⃣➖1⃣ draw against Tanzania!#SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 11, 2025 She added that Tanzania came into the match desperate for points and managed to disrupt Banyana's style of play. 'There is no easy team anymore, they hadn't picked up any points, we knew they needed to win at all costs and they came with a plan, made us play like a team under pressure when we were not under pressure, playing into their hands at times with the long ball, but still there is all to play for in the group,' said Ellis. Still unbeaten in their last 13 WAFCON matches — with 10 wins and three draws — Banyana have shown they know how to fight. 'This team has shown they have the grit, they have the courage and the resilience to fight back and get the result that we deserve.' South Africa will now face Mali in their final Group C fixture on Monday night at 9pm South African time, while Tanzania take on Ghana at the same time.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
South Africa rescue point against Tanzania at Wafcon
Veteran defender Bambanani Mbane rescued South Africa as the defending Women's Africa Cup of Nations champions had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Tanzania in Group showing intent and creating more chances, it was hardly surprising when returning Twiga Stars captain Opah Clement opened the scoring in the 24th minute in forward's header from a free-kick beat Kaylin Swart, although the South Africa goalkeeper perhaps should have done better with her positioning.A double substitution at half-time injected more energy into Banyana Banyana and the holders levelled in the 70th minute when Mbane found the net with the shot following a had to close out the game with ten players after Winfrida Gerald was shown a straight red card with six minutes remaining following a VAR check for a poor clip from behind on the ankles of Linda Africa moved back to the top of Group C, level on four points with Mali but ahead of the West Africans on goal difference. Those two sides meet in the final round of games on Monday with a place in the quarter-finals virtually assured.A first point for Tanzania keeps their hopes of reaching the knock-out stages alive, but the East Africans must beat Ghana, who drew 1-1 with Mali earlier on Friday, to have a chance of progressing.
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Mbane urges focus as Banyana eye crucial WAFCON clash against Tanzania
Banyana Banyana veteran Bambanani Mbane has urged her teammates to show the same focus against Tanzania as they did in their WAFCON opener against Ghana. Photo: Backpagepic Image: Backpagepix Banyana Banyana stalwart defender Bambanani Mbane has cautioned her teammates against underestimating their next opponents, the Twiga Stars of Tanzania, in Friday's Women's Africa Cuo of Nations Group C fixture (kick-off 9pm). In their opening group clash, Mbane spearheaded Banyana Banyana's WAFCON title defence on Monday with a 'Player of the Match' performance as the South Africans defeated Ghana 2-0 at Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco. When the teams return to the same venue on Friday, Banyana Banyana will be expected to overcome Tanzania, who are making only their second WAFCON appearance. However, Mbane has stressed that they cannot afford to undermine the Twiga Stars and has urged her teammates to approach the match with the same mentality they showed against Ghana. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Having experienced the fierce competition within African women's football, Mbane emphasised the importance of maintaining a winning mindset. "We can't take Tanzania lightly," she insisted. "They may be considered less fancied, but they have their strengths. We must approach this match with the same intensity and respect we had against Ghana." Banyana Banyana are aiming for a strong tournament showing, and will be aware that Tanzania's women's football has shown notable growth in recent months. The Twiga Stars boast a youthful side eager to prove themselves on the continental stage. Mbane's cautionary message serves as a reminder that past success does not guarantee smooth progress in sport; every match requires focus and determination. Putting in the hard work before facing Tanzania on Friday in Oujda #BanyanaBanyana — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 10, 2025 "We've prepared well, and our training sessions reflect our commitment to getting the desired result," Mbane noted. "We respect every opponent, and that respect starts with the understanding they are capable of causing an upset." The clash against Tanzania promises to be pivotal for Banyana Banyana's aspirations in the tournament. If they can continue to demonstrate both skill and composure, they should dominate the fixture. Over the last 18 months, Banyana Banyana have faced Tanzania twice during Olympic qualifiers, winning both encounters — 2-0 away and 1-0 at home. However, Mbane remains unfazed by past results. This one will haunt me!! I have to be better!😔 — Jermaine Seoposenwe (@jermaine109) July 7, 2025 'This is a new game, and it's a tournament; anything is possible,' she remarked. 'We're not talking about what happened before — we're talking about now.' The sweltering heat has posed an additional challenge, as Banyana Banyana adapt from South Africa's winter to Morocco's midsummer conditions, highlighted by their match against Ghana played in a scorching 34°C. Nonetheless, Mbane praised the team's winning mentality. 'That will take us far in the tournament. Even when we might have obstacles — if we can overcome the heat, we can achieve a lot,' she noted. Splendid day for South Africa's Bambanani Mbane to earn her the TotalEnergies Woman of the Match award! 🔥#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 | @Football2Gether — CAF Women's Football (@CAFwomen) July 7, 2025
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
‘We must show the same mentality,' Mbane says as Banyana focus on Tanzania
Banyana Banyana's veteran defender Bambanani Mbane believes if they maintain the mentality they showed against Ghana in their opening match at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco they'll earn another three points against Tanzania on Friday. The defending champions kicked off the tournament with a convincing enough 2-0 win over Ghana at the Stade d'Honneur in Oujda on Monday where Linda Motlhalo and Jermaine Seoposenwe sealed the victory with first-half goals. 'If we go with the same mentality we showed in the first game [we'll be OK],' said Mbane, who earned a player of the match award against Ghana. 'Tanzania lost their first match [1-0 against Mali], so they will want to prove they're a team that can do better. We need to maintain the same mentality we showed in the first game and not change.'
CAF
6 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Woman of the Match: Bambanani Mbane thrives in opener
Published: Monday, 07 July 2025 The mark of a champion is always seen in the way players and teams in general approach tough games. For South African international Bambanani Mbane, taking on Ghana in the TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 Group C opener on Monday, was an opportunity to help her team amass maximum points. This is the third consecutive time that South Africa are registering victory in their first game of the continental showpiece that it has become a normal thing now to them. It is that swagger of a team that has mastered the art of winning. From afar, it looks easy but to a player like Mbane, this is a result of hard work, discipline in the little and big things but also attention to detail. Deserved and hungry for more It is no wonder that she was named the Woman of the Match following their 2-0 win over the Black Queens of Ghana – a well deserved award that will not only look good in her trophy cabinet but will remind her of July 7, 2025 as a reward for her excellence. 'I am so glad that we managed to get the three points. It was never going to be an easy game but I am happy with the three points. Going forward, this is going to boost our confidence. We are the defending champions and we knew that it was not going to be easy but I am happy the way we started. Getting these three points was very important to us,' Mbane said after the game with a glow on her face. Teamwork makes the dream work There is always a sisterhood that comes to life whenever the Banyana Banyana take to the field. It is always experienced when they come off the bus. They take to singing in sync – songs that celebrate who they are and what they want to achieve. These songs guide them to the dressing room and it is there that they enter game mode – more like the feeling one embraces when going to war – except this war is on the field of play. For Mbane who features for two-time African champions Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, her camaraderie with her clubmates in regular season can be seen at the WAFCON in every touch of the ball and in more ways than one, it helps the success of the Banyana Banyana. A typical work day came to life in the second half when a ball was whipped into the box and to save the situation, Mbane headed it softly towards goalkeeper Andile Dlamini. The Goalkeeper of the WAFCON 2022 who was having a field day saving her team from all manner of attack thanks to a spirited Ghana side, picked up the headed pass and went on with her business like it was something they had talked about. 'Those two know each other from club level. Their communication skills are on another level. It is almost like they can premeditate what the other is going to do. I am never worried about them. I saw that moment and it speaks to their maturity and understanding of each other,' Desiree Ellis, the South Africa head coach said after the game. Mbane, Dlamini, Lebohang Ramalepe, Fikile Magama, Karabo Dhlamini, Noxolo Cesane and Tiisetso Makhubela complete the six-woman Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies squad inside the starting Banyana Banyana lineup against Ghana. Ellis also had high praise for Dlamini's standout performance against Ghana and emphasized that keeping a clean sheet was important to Banyana Banyana on the day.
