ACCRA – Banyana Banyana, South Africa’s Women's national team, went down 1-0 to Ghana in an international friendly match played on Sunday.
The match also served to officially open the refurbished Accra Sports Stadium.
The Black Queens and South Africa were using this fixture to prepare for the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations, which kicks off on Saturday in Ghana.
As it was the last warm-up encounter before the start of the competition, Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis kept the bulk of her team for the clash.
The home side that took the lead in the 21stminute after the visitors failed to defend a corner kick, with Samira Suleman’s header beating goalkeeper Kaylin Swart on the near post.
Ghana dominated proceedings and had South Africa chasing shadows. Banyana Banyana also created a number of chances but could not convert them.
. @Banyana_Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis reacts after the squad was named Team of the Year at the 2018 SA Sports Awards @SASportAwards @SAFA_net @SasolLeague @SasolSA #limitless pic.twitter.com/0vo4UYNXng
— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) November 11, 2018
Ellis made several changes and brought on Mamello Makhabane and vice-captain Refiloe Jane into the mix, as well as Jermaine Seoposenwe, to try and rescue the game.
Tiisetso Makhubela and Amanda Mthandi earned new caps.
Although there was a lot of improvement for Banyana Banyana in the second half, the scoreline remained the same.
South Africa will now move to their base camp in Cape Coast where the Group B will play defending champions Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Zambia.
Banyana Banyana face Nigeria in the first match on Sunday, while Ghana kick off the tournament a day earlier with a clash against Algeria.