Meeting Nigeria in the African Women’s Cup of Nations semifinals is like a cup final for Banyana Banyana‚ says midfielder Nompulelelo Nyandeni.
After a draw against Zimbabwe followed by defeat against tournament hosts Cameroon in the group stages‚ Banyana finally found their stride with a 5-0 thrashing of Egypt in Limbe on Friday.
South Africa‚ who meet Nigeria at Stade Municipal de Limbe tonight (8pm SA time)‚ finished second in Group A on four points to Cameroon’s nine.
Banyana are in for a tough match against Nigeria, who were winners of Group B on goal difference from Ghana.
The Super Falcons thrashed Mali 6-0 in their first round-robin stage match‚ then drew 1-1 against Ghana before wrapping up their semifinal place with a 4-0 thrashing of Kenya to end with a +10 goal difference on seven points.
“It is always a battle of the best when we face Nigeria‚” Nyandeni said.
“The rivalry between us started long before our days in the national team and playing against the Super Falcons is always like a cup final‚ regardless of the stage of the tournament.
“In any case once you are in the last four you can’t pick and choose.
“Those teams did not get there by fluke and to get to the top you have to go past them.
“It is not going to be an easy game but I am confident we can walk away with victory. We have beaten them before and to do that again‚ we will have to play as a team.”
Nyandeni said physically-imposing Nigeria have their weaknesses.
“We have been watching their matches since the start of the tournament‚ and will now analyse them with the technical team‚” the hugely experienced midfielder‚ who has 115 caps for Bafana‚ said.
“They are a very balanced side‚ just like us and they are not impossible to beat. If we settle early in the match and follow our game tactics‚ then I believe we stand a good chance of overcoming them.”
Cameroon meet Ghana in today’s earlier semifinal in Yaounde (5pm SA time).
l Head coach of the South African U20 men’s national football team‚ Thabo Senong‚ has announced a provisional squad of 26 players for the 2016 Cosafa U20 Cup that takes place in Rustenburg from December 7 to 16.
Amajita began their training camp in Rustenburg yesterday, where Senong is assessing his players further. The squad will be trimmed down to the required 20 for the tournament on Sunday.
Provisional SA U20 squad:
Goalkeepers: Sanele Tshabalala (Bidvest Wits)‚ Darren Johnson (Ajax Cape Town)‚ Kopano Thuntsane (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Reeve Fosler (Bidvest Wits)‚ Thendo Mukumela (Mamelodi Tigers FC)‚ Kananelo Motsoeneng (School of Excellence)‚ Tercius Malepe (Orlando Pirates)‚ Bonolo Seeco (Bloemfontein Celtic)‚ Givemore Khupe (Bidvest Wits)‚ Aghmat Ceres (Ajax Cape Town)‚ Kabelo Seriba (FC Metta, Latvia)‚ Mokgapedi Lesiane (Harmony Academy)
Midfielders: Wiseman Meyiwa (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Sibongakonke Mbatha (Bidvest Wits)‚ Kobamelo Kodisang (Platinum Stars)‚ Luther Singh (Gais Goteborg‚ Sweden)‚ Sydney Mtshweni (Supersport United)‚ Sphumelele Mbulu (Orlando Pirates)‚ Sipho Mbule (Harmony Academy)‚ Lehlohonolo Radebe (Polokwane City Rovers)‚ Keletso Makgalwa (Mamelodi Tigers FC)‚ Katlego Ntshabeleng (University of Johannesburg)‚ Sifundo Sibiya (Bidvest Wits)
Strikers: Menzi Ndwandwe (Amazulu)‚ Itumeleng Shopang (Kaizer Chiefs) — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
Banyana anticipates tough clash
After a draw against Zimbabwe followed by defeat against tournament hosts Cameroon in the group stages‚ Banyana finally found their stride with a 5-0 thrashing of Egypt in Limbe on Friday.
South Africa‚ who meet Nigeria at Stade Municipal de Limbe tonight (8pm SA time)‚ finished second in Group A on four points to Cameroon’s nine.
Banyana are in for a tough match against Nigeria, who were winners of Group B on goal difference from Ghana.
The Super Falcons thrashed Mali 6-0 in their first round-robin stage match‚ then drew 1-1 against Ghana before wrapping up their semifinal place with a 4-0 thrashing of Kenya to end with a +10 goal difference on seven points.
“It is always a battle of the best when we face Nigeria‚” Nyandeni said.
“The rivalry between us started long before our days in the national team and playing against the Super Falcons is always like a cup final‚ regardless of the stage of the tournament.
“In any case once you are in the last four you can’t pick and choose.
“Those teams did not get there by fluke and to get to the top you have to go past them.
“It is not going to be an easy game but I am confident we can walk away with victory. We have beaten them before and to do that again‚ we will have to play as a team.”
Nyandeni said physically-imposing Nigeria have their weaknesses.
“We have been watching their matches since the start of the tournament‚ and will now analyse them with the technical team‚” the hugely experienced midfielder‚ who has 115 caps for Bafana‚ said.
“They are a very balanced side‚ just like us and they are not impossible to beat. If we settle early in the match and follow our game tactics‚ then I believe we stand a good chance of overcoming them.”
Cameroon meet Ghana in today’s earlier semifinal in Yaounde (5pm SA time).
l Head coach of the South African U20 men’s national football team‚ Thabo Senong‚ has announced a provisional squad of 26 players for the 2016 Cosafa U20 Cup that takes place in Rustenburg from December 7 to 16.
Amajita began their training camp in Rustenburg yesterday, where Senong is assessing his players further. The squad will be trimmed down to the required 20 for the tournament on Sunday.
Provisional SA U20 squad:
Goalkeepers: Sanele Tshabalala (Bidvest Wits)‚ Darren Johnson (Ajax Cape Town)‚ Kopano Thuntsane (Orlando Pirates)
Defenders: Reeve Fosler (Bidvest Wits)‚ Thendo Mukumela (Mamelodi Tigers FC)‚ Kananelo Motsoeneng (School of Excellence)‚ Tercius Malepe (Orlando Pirates)‚ Bonolo Seeco (Bloemfontein Celtic)‚ Givemore Khupe (Bidvest Wits)‚ Aghmat Ceres (Ajax Cape Town)‚ Kabelo Seriba (FC Metta, Latvia)‚ Mokgapedi Lesiane (Harmony Academy)
Midfielders: Wiseman Meyiwa (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Nkosingiphile Ngcobo (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Sibongakonke Mbatha (Bidvest Wits)‚ Kobamelo Kodisang (Platinum Stars)‚ Luther Singh (Gais Goteborg‚ Sweden)‚ Sydney Mtshweni (Supersport United)‚ Sphumelele Mbulu (Orlando Pirates)‚ Sipho Mbule (Harmony Academy)‚ Lehlohonolo Radebe (Polokwane City Rovers)‚ Keletso Makgalwa (Mamelodi Tigers FC)‚ Katlego Ntshabeleng (University of Johannesburg)‚ Sifundo Sibiya (Bidvest Wits)
Strikers: Menzi Ndwandwe (Amazulu)‚ Itumeleng Shopang (Kaizer Chiefs) — Tiso Black Star Group Digital
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