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.