BANYANA Banyana will adopt a ‘no fear’ approach’ when they face
Africa’s No 1 ranked women’s football team Nigeria, in the
semi-finals of the 8th CAF African Women Football Championship, to be
played at the Nkoantoma Stadium in Bata tomorrow. Kick-off is at 6.30pm SA time.
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have played the Nigerians twice
this year in international friendly matches, which ended 1-all in
Rustenburg and goal-less in Lagos.
Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza said: “The stage is set
for an epic battle between the two sides and the power of African
women’s football is clear, with all four of the top ranked teams on
the continent in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon and SA having
made the semi-finals,” said Mkhonza.
“Safa and our team sponsor Sasol need to be thanked for the
continued support given to the national team which has turned our
players into heroines in the eyes of sports fans across our
country.”
Experienced Banyana Banyana midfielder Portia Modise, who scored for
SA in the international friendly played in Rustenburg on June 3, said
the Nigerians fielded their full strength team during the
international friendly matches against SA and Banyana Banyana can
break the mental block to record their first-ever win over the Super
Falcons.
“The Banyana Banyana players are so keen to get the win over Nigeria
and give South African football fans lots to be proud of as the win
will allow our team to make the final, which is one step further than
what we achieved at the CAF African Women Championship 2010 held in
Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg,” said Modise.
Banyana Banyana finished as the bronze medallists at the African
showpiece event two years ago, going down to Equatorial Guinea in the
semi-finals, but beating Cameroon in the playoff match for third spot.
At this year’s tournament, the South Africans finished second on the
Group A log, recording wins against Senegal (1-0) and the Democratic
Republic of Congo (4-1) and went down (1-0) to the hosts, Equatorial
Guinea in the opening fixture.
With Equatorial Guinea having topped the Group A log at this year’s
tournament, the hosts will take on Cameroon in the second semi-final
to be played in Malabo also tomorrow.