Banyana Banyana qualified for the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations in Morocco after a 1-1 draw against Algeria in the second leg of their qualifier at Stade Omar Hamadi on Wednesday evening.
South Africa did most of the job at home in the first leg where they scored two answered goals, giving them an aggregate score of 3-1.
Banyana coach Desiree Ellis had made minimal changes to the starting line-up where Gabriela Salgado who assisted the winner in the first leg started and captain Janine Van Wyk who was an unused sub started too.
South Africa had a chance in the first half to register goals, in the 10th minute when Thembi Kgatlana saw the goalkeeper off her line and found Hilda Magaia who missed.
Five minutes later Lebogang Ramalepe found Linda Motlhalo from the right but the keeper was aware of the
danger.
South Africa had a scary moment in the 27th minute when it looked like Algeria had scored but cameras showed that Andile Dlamini had a touch on the ball.
But at the stroke of halftime, the visitors were caught napping as Algeria took the lead through Sylia Koui. Banyana took the fight to their opponents in the second half.
In the 63rd minute, Sofia Guellatti handled the ball in the box and South Africa got a penalty which Motlhalo converted to equalise to make things difficult for the North Africans.
Five minutes from time it was game, set, match as Lydia Belkacemi received her marching orders which made the final stages all the more comfortable to see the game out.
Some of the nations that have qualified for the continental showpiece are Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Togo, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Burkina Faso.
Report by: @ngwanamogoto
