Banyana Banyana concluded their international fixtures for the year with a narrow 2-3 loss to Jamaica in an entertaining friendly match in Montego Bay on Monday night.
The South African Women’s National Team, sponsored by Sasol, used the two-match series against the Reggae Girlz as part of their preparations for the defense of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title next year.
Banyana started brightly, taking the lead in the 19th minute when Linda Motlhalo finished a well-worked team move. Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, South Africa’s defense stood firm, and they went into the halftime break with a 1-0 advantage.
Jamaica equalized in the 58th minute through Vyan Sampson, capitalizing on a chaotic moment in Banyana’s penalty area. The momentum shifted in favor of the hosts, who took the lead five minutes later when Drew Spence found the net.
A defensive lapse allowed Jamaica to extend their lead in the 76th minute, with McKenna pouncing to make it 3-1. Banyana, however, fought until the end, and Amogelang Motau capitalized on a mistake by the Jamaican goalkeeper in stoppage time to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
Despite the loss, head coach Desiree Ellis found positives in her team’s performance. “We played the way we wanted to play, and although we did not have a striker due to late changes, I believe the players did very well today,” Ellis said.
“We knew that Jamaica would be physical and come at us, so we adjusted our tactics to suit the match. Our players kept their shape, dominated upfront, and our defenders did really well despite conceding goals.”
The team will embark on their journey back to South Africa on Tuesday afternoon and are expected to land on Thursday evening, 5 December 2024.
As Banyana Banyana look ahead to WAFCON 2025, these encounters against tough opponents like Jamaica will serve as valuable learning experiences for the reigning African champions.
