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IOL News
5 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Ellis demands more despite Banyana's winning start in Tri-Nations series
Gabriela Salgado Banyana's Gabriela Salgado clears the ball away from Botswana's Senwelo Leungo in Atteridgeville on Wednesday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Desiree Ellis welcomed a winning start to Banyana Banyana's Tri-Nations Series campaign but admitted her side made things difficult for themselves in a nervy 3–2 victory over Botswana at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday. South Africa will now shift their focus to Zambia, whom they face at the same venue (kick-off 3pm) on Tuesday in their second clash of the tournament. The Tri-Series serves as preparation for the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this July. Banyana made a blistering start, storming to a 3–0 lead inside the opening 36 minutes. Jermaine Seopesenwe, who plays her club football for Monterrey in Mexico, bagged a brace to complement Adriette Mibe's early opener. 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 ✕ Given the short preparation period, Ellis and her technical staff would have been encouraged by the flying start, especially considering their recent mixed record against Botswana. Despite holding a higher ranking, South Africa have not always found it easy against their southern neighbours. In the last four encounters, the two nations have traded friendly victories. Botswana notably edged South Africa in the 2019 CAF Women's Olympic Qualifiers, winning 3–2 on penalties after a goalless two-legged tie. With a comfortable 3–0 advantage and just minutes left before half-time, Banyana eased off the throttle — allowing Botswana a route back into the game. The visitors accepted the invitation, nearly pulling off a dramatic turnaround. Reflecting on the match, Ellis pinpointed moments where her side gave away the early advantage and hopes for a better showing in their upcoming match against Zambia. 'With the first goal, we knew they were going to play the ball long, and we didn't react to that. The second goal that we gave away — we had said we needed to be patient on the ball, and yet we played it into traffic when we could have played wide. So there was a little lapse in concentration.' Ellis expressed concern over the second-half display, particularly the manner in which the goals were conceded — especially as they were situations the team had anticipated. 'The tempo went down a bit. In the first half, it was very high and we moved the ball around, but in the second half we didn't move ourselves or the ball — and that played in their favour,' Ellis continued. Seoposenwe gets her brace in the 35th minute — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) May 28, 2025
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Banyana Banyana survive Botswana scare in five-goal thriller
Gabriela Salgado Banyana's Gabriela Salgado clears the ball away from Botswana's Senwelo Leungo in Atteridgeville on Wednesday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Banyana Banyana kicked off their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) preparations with a gritty 3-2 triumph over Botswana in the Three Nations Challenge opener at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday. Early strikes from Jermaine Seopesenwe and Adrielle Mibe handed South Africa a dream start in the tri-nation series, which also includes Zambia. But Botswana battled back with a goal in each half to keep the contest alive. South Africa, eyes set on continental glory once again and with the Wafcon just weeks away, Banyana used their Challenge clash against Botswana to sharpen their blades – and they cut deep. Having barely unpacked their bags from a double triumph over Malawi last month, Desiree Ellis' side wasted no time finding their rhythm. Despite limited time in camp, the chemistry returned like an old song – smooth and dangerous. It wasn't long before the tempo rose, the passes flowed, and the intent was that of a team looking to hit the ground running. Back from injury, Refiloe Jane wore the armband like a crown, and wasted no time reminding the field of her class. Her pinpoint diagonal pass found Seopesenwe lurking, and though defender Kesegofetse Mochawe scrambled the danger away, the writing was already on the wall. From the resulting throw-in, Amogelang Masego turned sharply inside the box, setting up Seopesenwe for a powerful shot that was parried by keeper Sedilame Bosija. But the ball went only as far as Mibe, who pounced with the hunger of a lioness, and South Africa were on the board in the 13th minute. Botswana, still reeling, was caught napping minutes later. Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart launched a ball from deep, and Kgaelebane Mohlokoana played through Seopesenwe, who showed grace and poise to take it down with a silky touch before firing past the on-rushing keeper Bosija, and Banyana were 2-0 up in the 17th minute. Their last meeting between the two sides had been a cagey 1-0 win for South Africa during the 2022 Wafcon, but this time, the gap in class was widening. Botswana, desperate for a turnaround, saw their attempt to build from the back turn disastrous when Lone Gaofetoge's misplaced pass fell to the feet of a prowling Seopesenwe, who, with eyes set and locked in on target, rolled it past the keeper for South Africa's third goal of the match. Though down, Botswana were not yet out. With five minutes to halftime, Bosija combined with Radiakanyo Duduetsang, who stepped up with a thunderbolt from distance, catching Swart off her line and giving the visitors a flicker of hope with a stunning strike to go into the halftime break at 3-1. The visitors had found a new spur of energy and began the second half better than they did the first. They would soon be rewarded for their patience, with Phenyoyaone Moloi ensuring a tense finish to the match with her 63rd-minute strike pulling the visitors back within one of South Africa's lead. But it wasn't to be as Banyana were able to hang on for the win.
