Striker Jermaine Seoposenwe spared Banyana Banyana’s blushes with a stoppage-time winner in the Cosafa Women’s Championship against Botswana on Friday.
It looked like Banyana were heading for a draw after again missing a number of opportunities to break the deadlock at the Wolfson Stadium.
Coach Desiree Ellis had called on her team to finish off their scoring chances following a disappointing ratio in their tournament opener against Madagascar on Wednesday.
Despite winning 2-1, Banyana were guilty of missing a number of clear-cut openings, and Ellis warned them that Botswana were going to provide tough opposition.
And so it proved. The South Africans even had a penalty just before the hour mark, but Nompumelelo Nyandeni had her spot-kick saved by goalkeeper Sedilame Bosija.
The home side poured forward in search of an advantage, but to no avail – until the last seconds of the game.
Lebogang Ramalepe provided the cross and Seoposenwe headed the ball home.
Jermaine Seoposenwe enjoys the moment after scoring the winner for Banyana Banyana. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
Banyana are now on top of Group A on six points and are well on their way to the semi-finals, with Malawi – who beat Madagascar 2-0 earlier in the day – third on goal difference behind Botswana, with both teams on three points.
South Africa are next in action on Monday against Malawi at the Wolfson Stadium (3.30pm kickoff).
@jermaine109 yaaaaas chomi I taught you well yazi👏😄 headwork baby girl
— Leandra Smeda (@LeAnDrA_sMeDa) September 14, 2018