African queens: Banyana win first Wafcon title
|Published
GOLDEN GIRLS: Champions Banyana
Banyana Banyana are the queens of African football after claiming their first-ever Women’s African Cup of Nations title on Saturday night.
After failing to see off Nigeria in the 2018 final, coach Desiree Ellis’s team held their nerve in front of hosts Morocco’s home fans in Rabat to win 2-1.
Following a goalless first half at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, South Africa took the lead in the 63rd minute through the threatening Hildah Magaia, when the forward coolly slotted home Jermaine Seoposenwe’s cutback.
And she doubled SA’s lead with 19 minutes to play when she pounced after Morocco failed to clear a cross to score her third goal of the tournament to grab a share of the Golden Boot.
But even after Rosella Ayane beat Golden Gloves winner, goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, to ensure a nervy finish, Banyana didn’t crumble under the pressure and held on to lift the trophy.
For Hanover Park legend Ellis it was the perfect final weekend of Wafcon after she was named Women’s Coach of the Year for the third year running at Thursday’s Caf Awards.
The final whistle scenes 🥳#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame | #TeamSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/ntlO7H5IP0
— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 23, 2022
The boss lady hailed her team for finally delivering in the nation’s fifth final appearance.
She says: “It’s been a long time coming. Even for me as a player, I got a silver medal in 2000. We’ve tried before, but this is really special.
“When we met up as a squad, I asked the players what they wanted and they said they wanted to win Afcon.
🤩 STILL BUZZING 🤩
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 24, 2022
Relive the moments that lead to @Banyana_Banyana being crowned #WAFCON2022 champions!
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“I reminded them that there is a small matter of qualifying for the World Cup [by reaching the semifinals], but they said ‘Ai, if we win Afcon, we qualify’.
“From the word go they had this ambition. The players were amazing.
“I want to thank everyone involved in women’s football.
🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦 #WAFCON2022 CHAMPIONS 🇿![CDATA[]]>🇦#SABCSportFootball pic.twitter.com/MMBRNfVlBT
— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 23, 2022
“It means a lot to the whole of South Africa, to the coaches and players that have come before.
“This is for everyone that is connected to women’s football.
“Champions of Africa, wow.”