Banyana-Banyana were eliminated from the 2023 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship, despite winning their deciding group match 3-0 against Eswatini at the Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday.
Thubelishe Shamase scored a hat-trick, a first-half brace and another goal in the second half to help Banyana finish second in their group with six points.
The South African national senior women’s team started the day with a chance of making the semi-finals, sitting in the same position with three points however results in the deciding matches of Group B meant they stood no chance.
Zambia qualified top of group B with seven points and Mozambique as the best runners-up with the same number of points from the same group, as the three group winners and only the best second-placed team made the semi-finals.
There is only one spot left in the last four and will be filled by the winner of Group C who are playing their deciders on Wednesday.
Banyana came into the tournament with selection challenges that saw some players arrive on the morning of their opening game which they lost 4-3 to eventual group winners Malawi in Pretoria.
The African champions then won 3-1 against Madagascar in their second group match and wrapped up with a victory over Eswatini.
