Johannesburg – Banyana Banyana beat Egypt 3-1 in an entertaining friendly international match played at Dobsonville on Saturday.
Goals from Mamello Makhabane, Refiloe Jane and substitute Shiwe Nogwanya ensured coach Desiree Ellis began her coaching tenure with an impressive result.
Yet, with good finishing, Banyana Banyana could easily have routed their North African opponents as they spent most of the afternoon camped in Egypt’s half but had a solitary goal to show for their effort in the first opening 45 minutes.
But signs that this Banyana Banyana side has the potential to do well at the AFCON championships in Cameroon that begin in December are there for all to see.
Andisiwe Mcgoyi could have given Banyana Banyana an ideal start in the opening minutes when she fluffed an open chance after a cross from the left.
However, Banyana Banyana were finally rewarded in the 30th minute when Makhabane slotted home a penalty after an Egyptian defender had committed a foul in the box.
But Banyana’s joy were short-lived moments after the break when Noha Tarek fired home a low shot that gave Andile Dlamini no chance in the very first minute of the second half.
That goal gave Ellis’s charges a wake-up call and they again rallied forward in numbers but failed to convert several chances that came their way.
But the industrious Jane was never going to be denied her moment of joy when she made a maze run through a number of Egyptian defenders before slotting home.
It was a brilliant solo goal that lit up Dobsonville stadium and Egypt were to be on the back foot for the rest of the game.
Moments after her goal, Jane tried an audacious shot from outside the box but her attempt hit the crossbar with the Egyptian goalkeeper Maha El Demerdash stranded.
Substitute Shiwe Nogwanya then made it 3-1 for Banyana Banyana with almost the very last kick of the day as the host romped home 3-1.
– ANA