South Africa Football Boss Congratulates Banyana Banyana

President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Danny Jordaan has sent his congratulatory message to Banyana Banyana for winning the 2018 COSAFA Women’s Championship after defeating Cameroon 2-1 on Saturday at Wolfson Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Midfielder Refiloe Jane bagged a goal in each half, either side of a strike by Genevieve Ngo Mbeleck, as South Africa retained the title they won in Zimbabwe last year. The women’s national football team heroics earned them plaudits from all quarters and the country’s football boss has sent his congratulatory message.

“You have done extremely well. Today you showed your mettle against a difficult Cameroon by not allowing them to muscle you off the ball, which is something you did not achieve the last time you met them,” read part of his statement.

Banyana Banyana found the back of the net 13 times and were bridged only two times.

Midfielder Linda Motlhalo walked away with the Golden Boot for her four goals, which made her the top goal scorer in the tournament.

But the football boss singled out Jane for her outstanding goals that saw South Africa over the line.

“Jane showed maturity, calmness, and composure when she scored those goals, in particular, the second one. Another player would have panicked, but she showed nerves of steel to find the winning goal. What we saw there was all about decision-making, which requires a split second,” he added.

South Africa and Cameroon will again meet at the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in November alongside the hosts Ghana, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Mali, and Nigeria.

“Now to prepare you for the upcoming African Women’s Cup of Nations, we have to look outside the continent for more opposition. You also need to go play the likes of Ghana because it is hot there and you need to acclimatize.”

Overall, Ngo Mbeleck was named Player of the Tournament after an excellent campaign, while Goalkeeper of the Tournament went to Uganda’s Ruth Atoru while Zambia picked up the Fair Play award.