Banyana Banyana are back in the country for their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifier against Burkina Faso on Monday.
The South African football national team host their West African guests for the second leg at the Lucas Moripe Stadium
Banyana were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw in the first leg Burkina Faso hosted in Ivory Coast.
The SA team feels they could have won the game, had Thembi Kgatlana goal in the first half not denied. The assistant referee controversially flagged her offside instead.
Coach Desiree Ellis said she felt hard done by the decision against “a clear goal”.
“I thought we had scored. I believe Thembi was onside when she scored from a rebound from a shot that was taken by Janine [van Wyk],” Ellis said.
“We had a couple of opportunities as well in the second half. We scored, hit the post, and made a mistake that resulted in their goal.
“So, we need to minimise on our mistakes in the second leg because we kept on giving the ball away in areas where they could have punished us.
“It will be all to play for at home; we got the away goal. But it’s the next goal that is going to be important because the away goal will mean nothing if we concede first. We just got to be better [and avoid giving the ball away].”
Van Wyk on the brink of history
Veteran defender Janine van Wyk will be on the cusp of making history by becoming the most capped player in Africa with 184 international appearances.
“Janine has been a fantastic servant for South African women’s football and what she achieved (equaling the record) was well deserved,” she said.
“We did say that we’d give her the opportunity… of which we did. I am glad that it came off the way it did. It’s one more game to go (to break the record) so big congratulations to her.
“Now it’s all about breaking that record but most importantly, about getting a positive result. We edge the fans to come out in their numbers to rally behind the team.”
Ellis will receive a massive boost in her attack as star player Jermaine Seoposenwe returns for the fixture. The Mexico-based star missed the trip for the first leg played in the city of Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.
