Banyana Banyana got off to a winning start in their international friendly series with a 1-0 victory over Algeria Women’s National Team at Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday.
Nthabiseng Majiya made the difference, finding the back of the net in the 35th minute with a composed strike from the edge of the box to hand the hosts a deserved lead.
Banyana created several chances to extend their advantage but had to settle for a narrow win in a match that forms part of preparations for the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026.
Head coach Desiree Ellis was pleased with the result but admitted there is still room for improvement:
“I am happy with the result, but we can still improve on the performance. It was not an easy game as we have not played together since last year,” she said.
Ellis also highlighted the importance of giving players game time as the team continues to build towards WAFCON:
“It was important to give other players minutes and we will look at what to improve in the next game.”
It was also a special occasion for Bambanani Mbane, who marked her 100th appearance for the national team ; a major milestone in her international career.
Banyana will now turn their attention to the second friendly against Algeria, set to take place at King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday afternoon.
image: Banyana Banyana