With Banyana Banyana set to make their fifth appearance in the final of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, they’ll hope to claim their first Awcon title when they meet Nigeria at Accra Stadium this evening.
Three South African legends give their advice on how Banyana can beat the Super Falcons.
Shaun Bartlett
Bafana Bafana assistant coach
“They just have to go out there and do what they did in the first game. It was a collective team effort from coach Desiree Ellis’s team, and not about individuals, hence they won.
“We weren’t scared of Nigeria and we really put the pressure on them, so I think even in the final we know what to expect against them. It will be a good game and I think that they (Banyana) have it under control.
“Although we’ve already heard of the absence Fifi (Refiloe Jane, pictured), I think there will be enough depth in the team that will come in to step up and fill in the void.
“So they should go out there and try to continue with the same mentality because at the end of the day they are just one game away from completing a double and making history.”
Lucas Radebe
Former Bafana captain
“I think that they’ve done the hard part. They are high in confidence and in the final there are no favourites.
“At the end of the day, we are as good as others. However, they should go out there and make sure that they enjoy themselves because that’s important in a final.
“We won it with Bafana in 1996, and it will complete the puzzle if they won, especially against Nigeria because they’ve been there.
“This will also show that we are back in world recognition. Nigerians like to impose themselves that they’ve got good players but we’ve also got the players that they have.
“We should also try not to concede early. With Bafana’s misfiring, I think that they’ve brought hope to the country, so we should just go out there and try to build from the success that we’ve had this year especially as a team.”
Amanda Dlamini
Former Banyana captain
“I think that having been part of the team, it’s within them to go all the way. This is the opportunity for them to make history twice. Once you’ve tasted success once, it becomes within you to want to go all the way.
“There’s no team that’s unbeatable but they’ll have to continue with their clinical balls up front. In our last game against them (in the group stage), we were ready and full of confidence.
“We have nothing to lose, but we’ll have to continue with the momentum.
“I think it’s a huge blow being without Refiloe Jane on this occasion because you need someone like her in the team and around the players. But I have to give it to her for taking the decision to go back to her club because overseas teams really appreciate honesty and it’s about brand building. She’ll be exposed and become a multi-functional player when she returns.”
