Tuesday | September 6, 2022

The South Africa senior women’s team suffered a 2nd successive brutal defeat at the hands of Brazil at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban Monday night on Sept. 5.

Banyana Banyana tried in the first half to contain the well-organised and drilled Brazilian sisters and managed to consider two goals.

In the second half, SA fared better and put up a few promising attacks. However, it was not long before the game turned up the heat. It was a different ball game altogether as the visitors increased their offense.

Banyana Banyana found themselves with their backs against the wall. The Brazilians dazzled the off-beat and uncharacteristic South Africans.

They scored their 3rd and the flood gates opened. It was a one-sided affair where Banyana Banyana did not even have a single shot on target.

When the match officials ended the game, it was 6-0. The final whistle saved SA more humiliation under the South Americans football powerhouse. It was one of the friendly international games that the SA senior women’s team will find hard to forget.

This was their second encounter with Brazil in four days the South African Football Association (SAFA) organized since they were crowned the queens of African on July 23, 2022.

Banyana Banyana beat Morocco to lift their first-ever Women’s Africa Cup of Nations staged in Morocco, the feat last achieved by the men’s senior team in 1996. And that very milestone is yet to be repeated.

On Sept. 2, Banyana Banyana were trashed 3-0 by the Brazilians. Last night’s drubbing means that they considered nine goals in two fixtures without finding the back of the net themselves.

If anything, the heavy losses to Brazil gave SAFA a clear sense of where the Banyana Banyana standard is prior to the 2023 Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Furthermore, it accorded the head coach Desiree Ellis something to work on because Brazil is one of the stranger nations they are likely to face in this global tournament.

Until these friendly matches, SA had not met formidable opponents on the international front.