PublishedThursday, 03 August 2023
South Africa have officially joined Nigeria in making African women’s football history by also securing their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup™ round of 16 berth to face Netherlands on Sunday.
Banyana Banyana advanced to the knockout stages of the global showpiece after a highly entertaining 3-2 win over 16th ranked Italy on Tuesday – showing character in coming back from a goal down to stun the Europeans and world football with a well-deserved victory.
Following a jittery start to their second FIFA Women’s World Cup™ campaign, Banyana Banyana proceed into the knockout stages with a newly found confidence from dispatching their more fancied opponents.
The reigning TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations queens narrowly lost their opening match to Sweden 2-1 before their 2-2 stalemate with Argentina, which was then followed by the historic win over Italy that saw them boot them out of the competition.
However, an even bigger task awaits them in the round of 16 when they face 9th ranked Netherlands who finished top of Group E.
In the Lionesses, South Africa come against the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-finalists who are hoping to go all the way this year, having fallen short in the last edition after a 2-0 defeat to reigning champions, USA in the finals.
Netherlands, who have been earmarked as one of the tournament favourites opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Portugal before holding the defending champions to a 1-1 draw.
They then emphatically marched into the round of 16 with a 7-0 drubbing of Vietnam.
While on paper, the odds seem to be heavily stacked against the African champions, the South Africans go into the tie with the support of the African continent, which is motivation enough for them to cause yet another upset on Sunday.
