Day one of the 2024 HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women’s Championship saw Eswatini record their biggest victory at the tournament beating debutantes Seychelles 6-0 in the opening match, before hosts South Africa edged neighbors Namibia 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday.
Tenanile Ngcamphalala scored a hat-trick, one goal coming in the first half and the other two in the second stanza, while captain Celiwe Nkambule grabbed a brace and Nokuthula Ndlovu scored the other one.
The score could have been higher as coach Bongani Makhukhula’s charges had a goal disallowed in the first half.In the later kick-off, hosts South Africa scored late on to defeat 2022 semi-finalist Namibia.
Banyana have brought a fairly inexperienced squad that could not convert several chances, especially in the opening half.Keisha Hendricks was guilty of missing the target but with Tshegofatso Motlogelwa marshalling the midfield, they were largely on top.
Hendricks did find the back of the net in the early stages of the second period but was flagged offside.Zenatha Coleman showed leadership and experience for the Brave Gladiators, setting up Irene Kooper, but the latter was unlucky to not find the back of the net.
It was the Coleman-Kooper combination again in the dying minutes of the game with the captain setting up her teammate, who was denied by the woodwork. Banyana had an immediate reaction with a quick counterattack and Isabella Ludwig set up Motlogelwa, who finally broke the deadlock to take the points.
Eswatini top Group A with three points, followed by Banyana Banyana in second on goal-difference.
Day two will see Group B get under way with Madagascar and Mauritius opening proceedings at 12:00 CAT (10:00 GMT) and defending champions Malawi taking on Botswana in the second match of the day at 15:00 CAT.
