Jermaine Seoposenwe, Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia were on target as Banyana-Banyana defeated Tanzania 3-0 in the third round first leg 2024 Paris Olympics qualifier in Dar es Salaam on Friday afternoon.
South Africa took their chances as early as the fifth minute through Linda Motlhalo but her shot was not threatening as it was easily picked by the Tanzania goalkeeper. The visitors could have scored a minute later from a Kholosa Biyana corner however there wasn’t anyone to finish the ball. But in the 10th minute Hilda Magaia squared the ball from the left into the box and it found Jermaine Seoposenwe who didn’t make a mistake as she scored to break the deadlock.
Five minutes later the hosts won a set- piece just outside the box and Donisia Minja put it just over the bar. Two minutes after the half hour mark the African champions had another opportunity as they found the opposing defense sleeping but their keeper did well to tap the ball out for a corner. Six minutes before the break captain Kgatlana had a chance to increase the lead but her shot was blocked for a corner. Biyana stepped up and Kgatlana was denied by Najiat Abasi and Noxolo Cesane’s efforts to pick the second ball counted for nothing.
Coach Desiree Ellis brought on Amogelang Motau for Biyana at the start of the second stanza. Banyana could have doubled their lead through Cesane but her attempt was blocked in the 56th minute but Banyana were rewarded for the pressure they put their hosts under a minute later when Motlhalo found Kgatlana and the captained scored with a right foot to extend Banyana’s lead. Â
Magaia wrapped up the result in the 86th minute, scoring Banyana’s third goal in the dying minutes with a good finish from the left of goal.
The two sides will meet in the return leg on Tuesday at Mbombela stadium with the winner going to face the victor from the encounter between Cameroon and Nigeria for a ticket to France.
