Nthabiseng Majiya scored a late winner for South Africa as they completed a 1-0 victory over Botswana to seal top spot in Group C at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) Sunday night.
Botswana did well to hold off Banyana Banyana until the final 10 minutes when Desiree Ellis’ side finally broke the deadlock to claim a total haul of nine points in the pool phase and set up a quarterfinal meeting on Thursday with Tunisia.
But worrying for South Africa will be injuries for their two leading forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe that will leave them sweating ahead of the knockout stages.
Botswana will take on hosts Morocco in the quarterfinals, having barely troubled the South Africa goal at all in the 90 minutes.
The four semifinalists at this year’s African championship qualify automatically for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, with two of the losing quarterfinalists having to go through a difficult route via the intercontinental play-offs.
Banyana are among the most tactically astute teams in the competition – if not perhaps the best in this regard – but they are still having issues with execution and too often were let down by a poor pass or shot.
Nomvula Kgoale blazed well over the bar from inside the box and Thembi Kgatlana flashed a shot just wide of goal as South Africa made all the early running.
Botswana flooded their own box with players to try and make it difficult for Banyana to work their passing patterns and it did frustrate the South Africans, who were left to try their luck from a distance.
Janine van Wyk, playing her 181st international, had a header from a corner cleared off the line, before Banyana lost Seoposenwe to what looked an ankle injury. They will hope it is not too serious and that she can take a further part in the tournament.
Seoposenwe’s replacement Melinda Kgadiete glanced a header wide of goal, but the game was goalless at halftime despite Banyana’s dominance of the ball.
Linda Motlhalo curled an effort side of goal early in the second period and Banyana finally forced a save from Botswana goalkeeper Maitumelo Bosija as Kgadiete thrashed a got goalwards, though a little more composure might have seen her pick her spot with just the keeper to beat.
As they grew more frustrated, Banyana started shooting from further and further out, with some of their efforts overly ambitious to say the least.
Kgatlana also exited with what looked an ankle injury, but the goal they craved finally came with 10 minutes remaining.
Karabo Dhlamini slid in Kgadiete, whose shot was saved by Bosija, but Nthabiseng Majiya was on hand to knock home the rebound.
