Banyana Banyana claims fourth Cosafa win in a row

Hosts South Africa claimed a fourth successive Cosafa women’s championship title following a 2-1 victory over Botswana in the decider played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on November 7.

The win cements South Africa’s dominance of the competition, which has seen them win seven of the eight tournaments played.

This is also a fourth successive success for coach Desiree Ellis, comfortably the most decorated tactician in the regional showpiece event’s history.

Gabriela Salgado proved the hero of the final with a goal and an assist, first laying on a second-minute opener for tournament leading scorer Sibulele Holweni.

That early goal stunned Botswana and they never really got into top gear in the game, but can still be proud of reaching their first Cosafa women’s championship final and collecting a silver medal.

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Salgado added a second midway through the second half, spinning and firing home as the ball fell loose to her in the box.

Botswana were handed a lifeline with five minutes to play when Thanda Mokgabo got in behind the home defence and beat home goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.

But it was South Africa who came closest to another goal as a header from a corner struck the post.

South Africa managed 22 goals in the competition and conceded just three, showing their quality at both ends of the pitch.

It is an outstanding achievement, especially given they are without their overseas contingent, many of whom would be first-team regulars in a full squad.

South African speedster Hildah Magaia was named Player of the Tournament for a number of industrious displays in which she was both a goal-scorer and provider of assists, and central to her team’s success.

Her compatriot, Holweni, won the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals, while the Golden Glove went to Botswana goalkeeper Maitumelo Bosija. Eswatini claimed the Fair Play award.

Meanwhile, Tanzania were crowned champions of the Cosafa women’s u-17 championship after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Zambia in the final.

The East African guest nation also hold the Cosafa women’s u-20 championship title from 2019, a competition that could not take place this year due to the pandemic, meaning they have the trophy from two age-groups in their cabinet in Dar es Salaam.

Zambia looked as though it would be they who would triumph though following Comfort Selemani’s super solo goal after 18 minutes.

They led right up until the 93rd minute, but when Tanzania were awarded a penalty in injury-time, Aisha Masaka stepped up to convert and send the game into a post-match shoot-out.

Tanzania held their nerve under the pressure of penalties and triumphed 4-3 to become the second East African guests to lift the u-17 prize after Uganda won the inaugural competition in Mauritius last year.

Zambia’s Tisilile Lungu won the Player of the Tournament prize, while the Golden Glove went to her teammate, goalkeeper Chitete Munsaka, as the side conceded just five goals in the competition, the fewest of all the teams.

Masaka of Tanzania lifted the Golden Boot trophy with her 10 goals, while Zambia claimed the Fair Play award.

Finally, Lungu and South Africa’s Jessica Wade, from Alberton, have been selected for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to visit Spain in 2021, courtesy of LaLiga, after being selected by the technical study group.

The duo will get the opportunity to train with local clubs, experience a LaLiga game and immerse them in the local culture, as part of a new partnership signed between Cosafa and the prestigious Spanish league.

The same opportunity will be afforded to two players at the 2020 Cosafa men’s u-17 championship.

Contact the newsroom by emailing:

Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,  or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za , and Lebogang Sekgwama lebogangs@caxton.co.za.