The South African U17 Women’s National team has a mountain to climb to realise their dreams of a third FIFA World Cup tournament.
Despite putting up a gallant fight, Bantwana suffered a 1-3 defeat at the hands of their counterparts from Nigeria in the first leg second round FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday (8 March).
Shakirat Moshood gave the visitors the lead in the 20th minute, with Harmony Chidi increasing the advantage with the second strike from the penalty spot three minutes from the recess.
Bantwana captain, Katlego Malebana, who was working tirelessly, pulled one back, also from the penalty spot, two minutes into the second half.
The goal gave the hosts the much-needed boost and they threw everything at the Flamingos, but that spirit was broken when Nigeria restored their two-goal cushion with their third goal of the day, and the second for Chidi in the 68thminute.
Despite the loss, Bantwana head coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo was pleased with her players’ performance but disappointed by the results.
“I’m disappointed, but for my girls I’m happy. We came back strong in the second half. First 45 minutes we managed to create more chances than the opposition, but we didn’t convert. They only created two chances, and they scored. It’s one of those things when you don’t score you find yourself in this mess,” said Khumalo.
Nigeria U17 Women’s National team coach Bankole Olowokere admitted it was a tough match and this is how he described it.
“Explosive, interesting, fantastic, good for African football for development,” said Olowokere.
“We were playing against the host country, so you should expect them to come out fighting. There’s home support, they are motivated, so they want to show the people that they are playing football, playing for the nation, for the federation that spend money, they have all we have what it takes to be there so I’m expecting that.”
The two teams meet again for the reverse fixture next weekend (Saturday, 15 March) at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo in Nigeria.
South Africa will have to score three goals without any reply from Nigeria to advance to the third and final round of the qualifiers, and keep alive their hopes of another World Cup spot after the 2010 and 2018 participation.
Khumalo says anything is possible.
“I am 100 percent confident (of overturning the result) because remember we conceded the first goal and came back stronger in the second half, that tells you that my girls understand their race, they understand the tempo, the intensity, so for the second round we are going to fix how we make sure we don’t give the opponent all that space because it’s how we lost the game,” added Khumalo.
The Flamingos are now 90 minutes from their getting into the final round of qualifying but is aware that a tough challenge awaits in Nigeria.
“Very important, very very important (win) because it’s not easy going away and get three points and also the number of goals that we got. It’s a step in the right direction, so it’s one step out of the remaining 90 minutes before we can cross over to the next stage of the qualification of the World Cup,” said Olowokere.
“You can expect more from South Africa when they’re coming to Nigeria so we’re not going home to sleep. That third goal I call it an assurance goal and at home it will be better.”
The South Africans depart for Nigeria on Wednesday.
By Matlhomola Morake
