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Defending Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions, South Africa, are eager to dispose of Senegal this evening. This is to renew their rivalry with Nigeria in the semi-finals of this year’s tournament in Morocco.
The last meetings between Banyana Banyana and Senegal were in two friendly matches in June last year, away in Dakar with one draw and a 2-0 victory for the South Africans. The two goals were scored by Amogelang Motau and Noxolo Cesane, who played pivotal roles to ensure Banyana’s progression in this tournament.
Banyana’s first two matches against Ghana and Tanzania were not very impressive.
They found their mojo in their third game against Mali, that were level on points with them on the Group C log, with only goal difference setting them apart. They then beat Mali 4-0 to finish at the top of the Group and advance to the quarter-finals.
MATCH DAY | ⚽
🇿🇦Banyana Banyana 🆚Senegal 🇸🇳
The journey to glory heats up! Who will rise? Who will fall? 🔥🔥⚽️
📅Sat, 19 July |⏲️20:30
📺SABC 3
📲Stream on https://t.co/26PdrPrVLc#SABCSport #BanyanaVsSenegal #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 pic.twitter.com/MU8qTKJx8R— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 19, 2025
Senegal opened with a 4-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo but then lost 3-2 to Zambia. A 1-0 victory against Morocco saved them.
Banyana Banyana Coach, Desiree Ellis says they will not underestimate the Lionesses of Teranga in Oujda where Banyana played all their group matches.
“They came out of a very difficult group, and it shows the quality that they have. The games that they played, except for the DRC match, were very tight, with just one goal in it. They do have the quality; we played them last year in June, but they’ve improved so much. If you look at where they are right now, we really have to be on top of our game. It’s going to be a game of those small margins. The final and knockout games are never easy, so we really have to make sure that we are in charge and everything that we do, and we do the best we can. But keeping a clean sheet will also be of utmost importance,” says Ellis.
Banyana’s winger, Linda Motlhalo, who was part of the squad that faced the Lionesses of Teranga last year, says they need to be on top of their game to triumph against the Senegalese.
“We have played against Senegal before and they are a very good team. They are growing and so are other African teams. From when we played them to now, there is a huge difference. They also have players who have now signed for overseas teams, which says a lot about Senegal. They are looking really good, but we have a plan,” says Motlhalo.
So far, seven different Banyana players scored goals, including Linda Motlhalo, Jermaine Seoposenwe, Bambanani Mbane, Lebohang Ramalepe, Refiloe Jane, Hilda Magaia and debutant Ronnel Donnelly.
Ellis is happy that multiple goal-scorers are converting opportunities.
“Look, we’re happy that it’s not one player that’s scoring all the goals because it becomes easier to be able to notify a person who’s scored four or five goals. So we’re happy that we’ve had different goal-scorers because our goals come in different ways. One was a set-piece, one was a free-kick, and one was a penalty. I think there were transitions. There were high pressures when we won the ball, so it was all different types of goals,” says Ellis.
Under Desiree Ellis, South Africa have reached the knockout rounds in four of five major tournaments they played in, four WAFCONs and at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
A proud record they want to further improve on.
VIDEO | WAFCON | Banyana, Senegal clash preview: Mthokozisi Dube
