Banyana Banyana have secured a fourth successive COSAFA Women's Championship title after beating Botswana 2-1 in the final on Saturday afternoon.
Banyana got off to a flying start after Sibulele Holweni opened the scoring in only the second minute with a strike from close range her initial effort came off the far post.
The Mares were working their way back into the game as Lesego Radiakanyo came close to getting the equaliser in the 22nd minute with a header in the box that was smothered by goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.
Hildah Magaia came very close to giving Banyana a two-goal cushion just before the break with a stinging effort that missed the bottom near corner by a whisker after she went through on goal.
South Africa took their foot off the pedal after that and were nearly punished in first-half stoppage time after a scramble inside the box saw the ball drop to Mokgabo Thanda, who saw here strike saved by Dlamini.
Just minutes after Bonang Otlhagile came close to snatching the equaliser for Botswana, Gabriela Salgado doubled the lead for South Africa in the 65th minute with a clinical finish at the back post after shot-stopper Maitumelo Bosija parried Magaia's into her path
Holweni should have added a third goal for Banyana five minutes later after going through inside the box but her low shot was saved by Bosija while Robyn Moodaly was denied by the feet of Bosija inside the six-yard box soon after.
Botswana pulled a goal back in the last four minutes after Dlamini's attempted block ricocheted off Thanda and sailed into an open net.
Ellis' troops were unlucky not to add a third goal in the last minute after Holweni's shot hit the post on the far side of the box, but the hosts had done enough to claim a fourth straight title and seventh overall.
