Banyana Banyana will be looking to see off the challenge of unbeaten
hosts Equatorial Guinea and their loyal red-clad fans, when the Malabo
Stadium is expected to be filled to it's 25 000 capacity for the CAF
African Women Championship final on Sunday, 11 November 2012.
The grand finale kicks off at 17h30 South African time, and if the
opening leg encounter (won 1-0 by the hosts) is anything to judge by,
then Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will be on the receiving end of
much singing, cheering and dancing, from the fans in support of the home
side.
Banyana Banyana have run into form at the right time at this
tournament and travel to the Malabo Stadium fresh from a first ever
victory over Nigeria on Wednesday (07 November) in Bata. The home side
outplayed All-Africa Games Champions Cameroon 2-0 to book their place in
the final.
Captain Amanda Dlamini's side is a much classier unit than when the
nations last met in the semi-finals of the CAF African Women
Championship 2010 in Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg.
The Guineans won 3-1 that day to qualify for the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup tournament held in Germany last year.
"To travel home to South Africa with the CAF African Women
Championship trophy will be a super way to end this great 2012 year
which has also seen Banyana Banyana make their first appearance at the
Olympic Games," said Banyana Banyana head coach Joseph Mkhonza.
"Safa and Sasol must be thanked for their continuous support for
women's football in South Africa which has allowed our girls to flourish
on the international stage. If my players play to their best on Sunday,
I will be a proud coach and I can’t ask for more.”
"The girls played for each other in the win over Nigeria on Wednesday
and more of that courage will be required as we know that there cannot
be a weak link in this testing final match," added the coach.
Experienced players like midfielders in captain Amanda Dlamini and
Portia Modise, as well as goalkeeper Thoko Mndaweni and central defender
Janine van Wyk, have been able to lift their games and that of their
team-mates when playing to full house galleries, and their experience
could be needed in Sunday's title decider which could be described as
the best of the best in recent tournaments.
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