Adrielle Mibe and Jermaine Seoposenwe were on target as Banyana Banyana defeated Botswana 3-2 in an international friendly at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis made a few changes to the side that started against Malawi last month with captain Refilwe Jane making a long-awaited return to the team after more than a year. Bambanani Mbane and Karabo Dhlamini also returned from long term injuries while Gabriela Salgado started at left-back.
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The opening 10 minutes didn’t produce much action with the sides sizing each other up. But the hosts won a corner-kick in the 13th minute, Fikile Magama’s kick found Amogelang Motau who spotted Jermaine Seoposenwe in the box who had her effort saved however Mibe was there to bury the rebound and hand Banyana the lead before they doubled their lead three minutes later after Kgaelebane Mohlakoana set-up Seoposenwe who tapped home the second.
Seoposenwe completed her brace when Kesegofetse Mochawe was careless in clearing the ball in the 36th minute.
Botswana pulled one back with a stunner by Lesego Radiakanyo assisted by her goalkeeper Sedilame Boseja four minutes to the break to make it 3-1.
Shakira O’Malley and Nonhlanhla Mthandi came on for Mohlakoana and Motau for SA at the start of the second half. Â
Botswana scored their second goal when Swart and her defence were caught napping in the 63rd minute allowing Ontlametsi Gaonyadiwe to send the ball to an unmarked Laone Moloi to reduce the deficit. Substitute Lebohang Ramalepe came close to scoring for Banyana twice towards the end of the game but was beaten to the ball by Boseja.
This game is the first of two friendlies in a Tri-Nations series also featuring Zambia who Banyana face next week Tuesday. The matches are part of on-going preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco in July.
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