African Women's Championship
Result: Ghana 1-1 South Africa
Date: 15 October 2014
Banyana Banyana couldn't get the win they wanted, and had to make do with a 1-1 draw with Ghana at the African Women's Championship on Wednesday evening.
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After losing their opening game, Banyana were desperate for a win, but will now have to beat Algeria in their final game, and hope that Cameroon beat Ghana to assure a place in the semi-finals. Algeria lost 2-0 to Cameroon in the earlier game.
The opening ten minutes saw both teams sizing each other up with very forays into the final third, and even fewer goal-scoring opportunities.
However it was Portia Boarkye who had the first effort in anger for Ghana in the 11th minute, but Janine Van Wyk made a crucial block to deny her powerful shot.
Van Wyk was back to the rescue of Banyana minutes later, as she cleared the ball after Roxanne Barker was unable to gather cleanly.
But it was Banyana who broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when Shiwe Nogwanya got to the ball and beat the keeper, 1-0.
In the 23rd minute Portia Modise had a chance from the edge of the area, but it lacked power and she dragged it wide.
In the 32nd Mamello Mabhakane tried from a free kick, but her dangerous shot was parried away by the goalkeeper.
Banyana continued to dominate possession for the rest of the half, but Ghana's Black Queens got forward a few times themselves, and in the 43rd minute Boakye had another chance, but shot wide to the left.
Ghana grabbed the equaliser in stoppage time as Elizabeth Cudjoe scored from close range to make it 1-1 at half-time.
Amanda Dlamini had a chance early in the second half, but her headed attempt went wide of goal.
In the 55th minute Mabhakane almost scored for Banyana, but her powerful effort was just off target.
Ghana had a chance of their own ten minutes later but no one could reach Cudjoe's cross into the box, and Banyana escaped unscathed.
Leandra Smeda had a great chance in the 68th minute, as she ran onto a good cross from Portia Modise, but she couldn't keep her header down and it flew wide and high.
Five minutes later Mpumi Nyandeni tried from long range and forced a great one handed save from the Ghanaian goalkeeper.
Van Wyk had a chance in the 80th minute with a great long range effort, but her attempt was well saved.
Two minutes later Modise had a chance for the winner, but her header went off target.
In the dying minutes Mabhakane tried a long range effort, but it went wide of goal.
Mpuni Nyandeni was named as the player of the game in her 100th game for South Africa.
This is how they Banyana lined-up for the game:
Banyana XI: Barker, Dludlu, Vilakazi, Van Wyk, Matlou, Dlamini, Makhabane, Smeda, Nyandeni, Nogwanya, Modise
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