Photo Courtesy: Safa.net
18 October 2015 – The South African Senior Women’s National Team, Banyana Banyana qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games after defeating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in a hard-hard second leg battle on Sunday, 18 October 2015 at Estadio de Bata in Equatorial Guinea.
A goal in the 62nd minute was enough to see the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana through to Brazil.
With the first leg having ended in a goalless draw, the pressure was always going to be on the home side.
18 October 2015 – The South African Senior Women’s National Team, Banyana Banyana qualified for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games after defeating Equatorial Guinea 1-0 in a hard-hard second leg battle on Sunday, 18 October 2015 at Estadio de Bata in Equatorial Guinea.
A goal in the 62nd minute was enough to see the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana through to Brazil.
With the first leg having ended in a goalless draw, the pressure was always going to be on the home side.
The visitors had a chance as early as the sixth minute but Amanda Dlamini fluffed the opportunity.
Ten minutes into the second half Banyana Banyana Refiloe Jane was faced with the opposition keeper but shot straight into her hands.
Then Seoposenwe came into picture; she received a beautifully weighted pass from Dlamini and coolly finished to silence the large crowd at Estadio de Bata.
Six minutes later the hosts could have equalised after a defensive error from Noko Matlou but goalkeeper Roxanne Barker, saved the blushes.
Equatorial Guinea then threw everything at South Africa but the visitors defence stood resolute but not before Nothando Vilakazi had stopped a ball on the line with goalkeeper Barker well beaten.
In the 76th minute Barker came to the rescue again with a great save that kept the home side out as frustrations started to creep in.
And that’s how it ended in Bata – South Africa hanging on for a famous victory against their more favoured hosts.
“We worked as a team and did what we had to. Guinea was tough side but we felt we were better. We build our confidence from the first leg and we had no reason to doubt ourselves. We are not individuals we work as a team – when we lose we lose together and in victory we are also together,” said goal scorer Seoposenwe.
“The win means a lot, as it will hopefully lead to women’s football being recognised in South Africa. We just need to build from this as we are growing in our game. We wanted to make South Africa proud and that is what we did. The goal I scored is not about me, but it stems from teamwork.”
Ten minutes into the second half Banyana Banyana Refiloe Jane was faced with the opposition keeper but shot straight into her hands.
Then Seoposenwe came into picture; she received a beautifully weighted pass from Dlamini and coolly finished to silence the large crowd at Estadio de Bata.
Six minutes later the hosts could have equalised after a defensive error from Noko Matlou but goalkeeper Roxanne Barker, saved the blushes.
Equatorial Guinea then threw everything at South Africa but the visitors defence stood resolute but not before Nothando Vilakazi had stopped a ball on the line with goalkeeper Barker well beaten.
In the 76th minute Barker came to the rescue again with a great save that kept the home side out as frustrations started to creep in.
And that’s how it ended in Bata – South Africa hanging on for a famous victory against their more favoured hosts.
“We worked as a team and did what we had to. Guinea was tough side but we felt we were better. We build our confidence from the first leg and we had no reason to doubt ourselves. We are not individuals we work as a team – when we lose we lose together and in victory we are also together,” said goal scorer Seoposenwe.
“The win means a lot, as it will hopefully lead to women’s football being recognised in South Africa. We just need to build from this as we are growing in our game. We wanted to make South Africa proud and that is what we did. The goal I scored is not about me, but it stems from teamwork.”
By: Editor
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