Banyana Banyana did exactly what their coach Desiree Ellis expected them to do when they massacred Mozambique 7-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations Women’s first leg qualifier at the Estadio Nacional do Simpeto in Maputo on Wednesday afternoon.
Linda Motlhalo and Gabriela Salgado each scored a brace with Refiloe Jane, Janine van Wyk and Noxolo Cesane netting the other goals.
“Look, you know this was an important game for us if we wanted to go to the AFCON. This is where it starts. We didn’t have a lot of time to prepare. We only came to camp on the 18th,” Ellis said.
“We also gave a debut to Asanda Radebe who is 18. I thought she did very well, she had an assist.”
Banyana Banyana were better than how they were during the COSAFA Women’s Championship in Gqeberha where they finished fourth and Ellis is happy with that.
“I think it was a professional performance. We made sure that we didn’t concede,” she said.
“We knew that we would create chances. I think we hit the past five or six times. We are happy with the result, that’s important to get a result away from home to make sure that when you get home you don’t a lot of pressure on yourself. I think the team did magnificently.”
Banyana Banyana are going to welcome the Mozambicans on the second leg at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday next week.
