Africa Women's Cup Of Nations
Result: Nigeria 0-1 Banyana Banyana
Date: 18 November 2018
Venue: Accra Stadium
While Bafana Bafana failed to overcome the Super Eagles, Banyana Banyana began their Africa Women's Cup of Nations campaign with victory Nigeria on Sunday.
The two sides were tentative in the early stages and still studying each other out. However, the Super Falcons saw a bit more the possession without creating much.
Mamello Makhabane had chance to break the deadlock for Desiree Ellis' ladies two minutes before the half hour mark with a strike from outside the box that sailed wide.
Four minutes later, Desire Oparanozie had a wonderful opportunity to find the breakthrough for the Super Falcons after going through in the box unmarked, but she fired her strike over the crossbar.
Ellis' charges had a good attacking spell towards the end of the half, holding Nigeria inside their own half and finding chances on set-pieces, but they could not get the breakthrough as the first stanza ended goalless.
South Africa came out firing against the Super Falcons in the early stages of the second stanza, continuing where they left off from the latter part of the first stanza but they just lacked the final pass in the last third.
Jermaine Seoposenwe came close to breaking the deadlock for Banyana eight minutes into the second half with a ricocheted effort that sailed just wide of the bottom corner.
Ellis' ladies were losing their stranglehold on the Super Falcons after 65 minutes as the latter were slowing down the tempo of the match by making tactical substitutions.
One of those substitutes, Thembi Kgatlana finally broke the deadlock for Banyana five minutes before time with a smashing volley from a tight angle that sailed into the far corner.
Thomas Dennerby's side were shell-shocked in the closing stages and although they showed fighting spirit, they lacked composure in the final third as Banyana held on for the win.
