Paris 2024: SA a foot in Olympic finals with big away victory against Tanzania
“Star-girl” Jermaine Seoposenwe scored early before two second half strikes from Kgatlana and Magaia set the game, and probably the tie beyond Tanzania’s reach, as the 3rd round for the Paris Olympic qualifiers climaxed at the Azam Complex Stadium, Tanzania.
With eight African teams in action on Friday all in hot pursuit of the two Paris 2024 berths allocated to the African continent, the pressure was on head coach Desiree Ellis to make sure of this qualifier, with SA having missed out on the Tokyo 2020 Games.
With Seoposenwe hitting home from a classy assist courtesy Hildah Magaia in the 10th minute, the South African never looked back, playing a confident first half that belied the visitors’ slim 1-nil advantage.
The second half started with a substitution, Amogelang Motau introduced to replace Kholosa Biyana, but Banyana Banyana continued to look the part, playing attractive football despite the ever-present hidden danger of the unknown Tanzanian team.
The pressure couldn’t hold, and Liga MX Femenil club Tigres Femenil’s new signing Thembi Kgatlana slotted Banyana Banyana’s second goal to double the advantage in the 57th minute.
With the pressure off, the senior South African national women’s side adopted a slightly more restrained temperament, cautious to avoid conceding an inch while always on the hunt to extend their lead.
Soon after Gabriela Salgado came on for Noxolo Cesane in the closing stages of the match, it was none other than #8 Hildah Magaia who set the match beyond doubt when her 86th minute goal gave South Africa the match’s closing goal and a mighty 3-0 win.
WIth Friday’s result in the bag, coach Ellis will be confident of her charges cleaning up this contest come Tuesday’s return leg, at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga, on Tuesday.
