Banyana Banyana were held to a 0-0 draw by Angola on Thursday in the 2021 COSAFA Women’s Championship game at the Nelson Mandela University Madibaz Stadium.
South Africa coach, Desiree Ellis, made three changes to her starting lineup.
Ellis dropped captain Janine van Wyk, and Gabriela Salgadofor Banyana’s second game this week. Robyn Kimberly Moodaly was on the bench.
The wily Banyana coach said the workload of the players had to be managed carefully.
The first half was a tightly contested affair with Banyana edging their opponent in attempts at goal. Angola relied on their physical superiority to keep the nifty Banyana players at bay.
The first half ended goallessly.
Banyana’s Karabo Makhurubetshi failed to come out for the second half owing to an injury. She was replaced by Skipper Van Wyk.
The South Africans came close to scoring, but the Angola goalkeeper Sandrina Antonio thwarted many one-on-one efforts.
Noxolo Cesane, Nombifikile Ndlovu and Oratile Mokeona all saw their efforts blocked by the Angola captain.
Coach Ellis brought on striker Salgado for Ongesiwe Nlangisa in the 60th minute to try and add to the firepower upfront.
With 20 minutes gone in the second stanza, a third yellow card was flashed to an Angolan Player by the Zambian referee Gloria Sambunda.
The Angolans had amassed 20 fouls compared with Banyana’s three.
Despite the pressure and countless raids mounted by the South Africans, the Angolans held on to end the match with a hard fought goalless draw.
Banyana still leads Group A with four points.
In the first game earlier this week, South Africa beat Malawi 2-1 to go top of Group A .
Malawi beat Mozambique 3-2 in the earlier game on Thursday.
Mozambique let a 2 goal lead slip and now find themselves at the bottom of Group A with only one point from two games.
