- 5 changes to the team that played on Saturday
- 50 caps for Kaylin Swart
- Nyandeni makes 150 caps, and departs the scene
- Malawi scores in the 58th minute
- Magaia scores in the 74th minute
- Motau scores 2nd goal – 87th minute
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana came back from a goal down to secure a 2-1 win over a stubborn Malawi in an encounter marred by a heavy downpour at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Tuesday (8 April 2025).
The visitors had taken the lead early in the second half (58’) through Vanessa Chikupira leaving the home crowd stunned.
But the African Champions showed their never say die attitude, and it came to the fore when needed the most.
Second half substitute, Hilda Magaia, who came on for the enterprising young Adrielle Mibe, proved once again why she is the go-to person for Banyana when she pulled one back in the 74th minute.
A moment of individual brilliance saw South Africa snatch victory at the dearth when Amogelang Motau blasted a long-range free kick to beat the Malawi goalkeeper, giving the hosts a 2-1 win.
The Mexico-based former UWC captain was named Player of the Match.
The victory wrapped up a two-match triumph for South Africa head coach Dr Desiree Ellis who was using the fixtures as preparations for the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in July. Banyana are the defending champions.
Banyana won the first encounter 3-0 courtesy of a brace by Nonhlanhla Mthandi and a strike from the penalty spot by Linda Motlhalo on Saturday, 5 April at the UJ Stadium in Soweto.
For the second encounter, Ellis had made five changes to the starting line-up bringing on, among others, goalkeeper Kaylin Swart who was celebrating her 50th appearance. Legendary midfielder, Nompumelelo Nyandeni captained the side as she bid farewell to her Banyana teammates in her last match for country, racking up a magnificent 150 caps – the third highest after the retired former captain, Janine van Wyk (185) and Noko Matlou (174).
The two victories for South Africa were befitting for the two stalwarts, Nyandeni and Matlou who had their last dance with the national team – Matlou wore the captain’s armband on Saturday.
Banyana Banyana’s next assignment is late next month when they are expected to play two final friendly matches in preparation for WAFCON.
Ellis spoke to the media after the clash with Malawi and had this to say.
Your impressions of the match?
We made some changes, also changed the formation slightly but we didn’t play well in the first half, we were too far apart, we couldn’t find each other, we tried to make them the pitch smaller because we know where we are in at the season, with Malawi just having ended this season so they would have been a little bit sharper in terms of fitness. We changed the formation slightly and I thought towards the end of the first half we looked a bit better, we then changed the personnel as well to make sure to give us that impetus. But we lost the ball in an area where we could have played forward and they hit us and then from the corner we didn’t pick up, I mean she had a free header.
Weather and resilience
I thought our ball in the final third was poor considering the weather, I thought we played it too hard and at times we could have got in behind goal, but the weather didn’t play its part, and we didn’t adapt to that at times. But the resilience that this team shows, the fighting spirit is that the team has, the never say die attitude that they showed, gave us that gave us that victory, but it wasn’t a good day. Also, the weather played a part, but it played a part for both teams and the few chances that we had, if it’s on target it’s a goal. At the end of the day sometimes you don’t play well, and you get the result, and this is one of those days.
Lots of depth, bigger pool of players:
It definitely helps us if you look at the players that started and the players that came off the bench, I think we have a little bit more depth now and that is really important. You can’t just have a starting 11 that goes on to the pitch and you don’t have that quality depth, and I think in the first game you saw (Adrielle) Mibe and Pana (Kgaelebane Mohlakoana) playing out wide and that’s a little bit more depth that we got. (Nonhlanhla) Mthandi having a really good game that really helped us you know in terms of adding more numbers to our depth.
Versatility at WAFCON:
I think this WAFCON is going to be a competition where we’re going to have a lot of versatility, we’re going to have a lot of depth. You see the changes coming from the bench in the first game had a huge effect in the second game and that’s a huge effect, and that’s maybe what it’s going to take to have a good bench. In the previous WAFCON we used that really well but we’re going to need a lot more versatility because if the number is 21 or if the number is 23 to go to WAFCON, you’re going to have a lot more versatility in terms of that. When I selected Gabby people said that she’s a winger but she’s actually a wingback and today playing in as a fullback I thought she did reasonably well. There’s a little bit more depth in that position, there’s a little bit more depth at centre back and that helps us a lot going forward because it’s a WAFCON year where we have to defend. And the teams haven’t stood still, other teams are all playing, the other teams are playing on a regular basis, so we also have to play on a regular basis, and I think we utilize this really well.
Heavy travel:
We had players come in on Tuesday, we had players coming in on Wednesday and we had some players coming in on Thursday from very long flights and we wanted to play some players in the first game but unfortunately we also have to take care of that and we have to make sure that players also go back to the clubs in good shape considering the long travel that they had and the long travel that they’re going to have going back so that’s why we tried to make the changes and then utilize the bench like we did in the first game.
Nyandeni’s last game:
I think that’s fantastic, I think players that have given long service to the country we need to celebrate that. I think it’s really important to give them a proper send off to say thank you for the effort that she’s put in, thank you for being the player that she was. I mean she’s been part of a lot of the success of Banyana, she’s also been part of the highs and the lows, but this is fantastic at home to be able to give a player such a fantastic send-off in front of her home crowd, in front of her people, to say thank you for everything that she’s done for football. I saw Mpumi (Nompumelelo Nyandeni) as a 15-year-old and I remember way back in the Sasol League, first championship in Cape Town it was Mpumi leading at team, Detroit (from Mpumalanga) and she was absolutely fantastic in that tournament. So, a big thank you to Mpumi and hopefully she still has a long club career, thank you for everything that she’s done for South African football, and we cannot thank these players enough for everything that they’ve done.
By Matlhomola Morake
