The journey for the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games qualifiers continues when they take on Tanzania in the first leg third round clash on Friday, 23 February 2024.
This away fixture will be played at the Azam Complex in the capital Dar es Salaam, kicking off at 15h00 (SA Time).
The South Africans have had a great run over the last few years – lifting the TotalEnergies CAF Women’ Africa Cup of Nations in 2022; appearing in two FIFA Women’s World Cup competitions in 2019 and 2023 – making history in the latter by finishing in the Round of 16.
Having tasted glory, they want more.
In the last round of the Olympic qualifiers they brushed aside the Democratic Republic of Congo to set up a meeting with Tanzania.
The Twiga Stars haven’t been to either the World Cup or the Olympic Games but fancy their chances after recently qualifying for the next edition of the WAFCON since 2010.
This will be the sixth meeting between the two nations, with Banyana Banyana dominating in a hundred percent record win.
But South Africa’s Head Coach Desiree Ellis says it’s all in the past and cannot afford to take things for granted.
South Africa vs Tanzania – Head to Head:
| DATE | RESULT | COMPETITION |
| 23 July 2006 | 3 – 0 | CAF Women’ African Championship |
| 04 August 2006 | 4 – 0 | CAF Women’ African Championship |
| 31 October 2010 | 2 – 1 | CAF Women’ African Championship |
| 20 May 2012 | 5 – 2 | International Friendly |
| 31 August 2014 | 6 – 1 | International Friendly |
“The last time we played Tanzania was in 2014 and that’s history, you can’t look back at that. Teams change and teams evolve every game and every year, so previous results have no bearing on any match. You have to play every match as it comes and when it comes because if you’re looking back at that (history) and comparing, you’re going to find yourself in trouble, you going to find yourself chasing the game you’re going to find yourself behind,” Ellis told SAFA.net
“Any game away from home is tough because it’s different conditions, it’s the home fans but there’s just as much pressure from the home team because they have to get a result, so we have to be at the absolute best to make sure that we come away with a with a good result that suits us.”
With all their achievements, and the tag of being African Champions, the pressure is on Banyana Banyana, more so after missing out on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where they were knocked out by Botswana in the qualifiers.
There is no away-goal rule in these matches, but playing away first could still work in South Africa’s favour as the team that does well in the first leg more often than not dictates terms in the reverse fixture.
“The last couple of matches we played last year both the second round Olympic qualifiers as well as the WAFCON qualifiers were all away from home but you have to play whether it’s home or away, and with there being no away goal rule that’s in place, we just have to make sure that we get a positive result to take the pressure off us when we go back home,” said Ellis.
Her words were echoed by Mexico-based forward Thembi Kgatlana, who will wear the captain’s armband in place of the injured Refiloe Jane.
“For us it’s very important to do our best to qualify. There’s still another round after this and we were really disappointed a couple of years ago not to qualify for the Olympics after we went in 2012 and 2016. So, I think we are a team that’s wanting to qualify for the WAFCON, the Olympics, the World Cups – and not qualifying the last time to go to Tokyo actually changed the mood in the team. We know how important this game is for us and we’re looking forward to playing tomorrow and the return leg in South Africa,” said Kgatlana.
This will be both nations’ first matches in 2024.
Last year Banyana Banyana had a hectic year, playing 18 games in total – compared to 10 faced by Tanzania.
The South Africans drew four, won 7 and suffered as many losses. Eleven of the matches were competitive, while the rest were friendly encounters. Twelve games were played away with six at home.
Tanzania on the other hand took part in 10 games, after two were cancelled – (against Congo in Olympic qualifiers – earning them a walkover and progression to the next round).
They won six and lost four.
The return leg for the Banyana Banyana vs Tanzania qualifier is Tuesday, 27 February 2024 at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
Kick-off is at 19h30.
BANYANA BANYANA MATCHES IN 2023:
| OPPONENT | RESULT | DATE | TYPE | NAME |
| Uzbekistan | 3 – 0 (W) | 18 Feb | Friendly (Away) | Turkish Women’s Cup |
| Slovenia | 1 – 1 (D) | 21 Feb | Friendly (Away) | Turkish Women’s Cup |
| Serbia | 2 – 3 (L) | 10 April | Friendly (Away) | |
| Botswana | 0 – 5 (L) | 2 April | Friendly (Home) | |
| Costa Rica | 2 – 0 (W) | 15 July | Friendly (Away) | |
| Sweden | 2 – 3 (L) | 23 July | Competition (A) | FWWC |
| Argentina | 2 – 2 (D) | 28 July | Competition (A) | FWWC |
| Italy | 3 – 2 (W) | 2 August | Competition (A) | FWWC |
| Netherlands | 0 – 2 (L) | 6 August | Competition (A) | FWWC |
| USA | 0 – 3 (L) | 22 September | Friendly (A) | |
| USA | 0 – 2 (L) | 24 September | Friendly (A) | |
| Malawi | 3 – 4 (L) | 4 October | Competition (H) | COSAFA |
| Madagascar | 3 – 1 (W) | 7 October | Competition (H) | COSAFA |
| Eswatini | 3 – 0 (W) | 10 October | Competition (H) | COSAFA |
| DR Congo | 1 – 1 (D) | 25 October | Competition (A) | CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier |
| DR Congo | 2 – 0 (W) | 30 October | Competition (H) | CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier |
| Burkina Faso | 1 – 1 (D) | 30 November | Competition (A) | WAFCON Qualifier |
| Burkina Faso | 2 – 0 (W) | 30 November | Competition (H) | WAFCON Qualifier |
TANZANIA MATCHES IN 2023:
| OPPONENT | RESULT | DATE | TYPE | NAME |
| Algeria | 4 – 0 (Lost) | 9 April | Friendly | |
| Algeria | 3 – 0 (L) | 11 April | Friendly | |
| Zambia | 1 – 0 (L) | 11 June | Friendly | |
| Uganda | 3 – 1 (L) | 7 July | Friendly | |
| Congo | w/o | 10 July | Competition | Olympic Qualifier |
| Congo | w/o | 18 July | Competition | Olympic Qualifier |
| Cote d’Ivorie | 2 – 0 (L) | 22 September | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
| Cote d’Ivorie | 2 – 0 (W) | 26 September | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
| (2-2 Agg)Tanzania won 4-2 (p) | ||||
| Botswana | 2 – 0 (W) | 26 October | Competition | Olympic Qualifier |
| Botswana | 0 – 1 (W) | 31 October | Competition | Olympic Qualifier |
| Tanzania won 3-0 Agg. | ||||
| Togo | 3 -0 (W) | 30 November | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
| Togo | 0 – 2 (L) | 5 December | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
| Tanzania won 3-2 Agg. | ||||
By Matlhomola Morake
