29 October 2023 – It will be a do-or-die match for Banyana Banyana in their second leg 2024 CAF Women’s Olympic qualifier against the Democratic Republic of the Congo at Orlando Stadium on Monday afternoon.
With the away goal rule taken away, this means that the Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s team will have to dig to get a win to proceed to the next round of the competition.
Speaking to www.safa.net before the first leg,Banyana Banyana player Kholosa Biyana emphasised the importance of doing well to make it to the Paris Olympic for this current group of players to complete the puzzle.
Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges have qualified for the global showpiece on two occasions – in 2012 under coach Joseph Mkhonza and in 2016 under coach Vera Pauw. The team missed out in 2019 after losing to Botswana and Ellis will be hoping to draw inspiration from her team’s Women’s African Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco last year, and the performances in the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The South Africans 1-1 with DR Congo in the away leg on Wednesday last week, and will need to be clinical in the home leg on Monday if they are to seal the qualifier. Jermaine Seoposenwe and Samkelisiwe Selana, who missed the away leg, will be available for selection on Monday.
“I thought our final training session ahead of the game tomorrow went really well with everybody available for training and getting the feel of the field. It’s a familiar ground that we played in before,” said Ellis.
“It’s a game that we must win, a game that we must start well and take away from the opponent because they have shown that they are a very resilient team.”
Banyana Banyana vs Congo details:
Monday, 15:00pm
Orlando Stadium
Live on SABC 1