Banyana book place at Wafcon to defend title, Van Wyk earns record cap

Three important boxes were ticked by Banyana Banyana in their 2-0 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) qualifier second leg win over modest Burkina Faso at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Monday.  

On a scorching hot afternoon in Atteridgeville, where temperatures exceeded 33°C, Banyana ensured they will defend their Wafcon title at the tournament to be hosted by Morocco next year. 

The win on Monday, courtesy of a second-half penalty by Linda Motlhalo and a goal by substitute attacker Nicole Michael, meant South Africa progressed 3-1 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw in the opening leg in Ivory Coast last week. The defending champions will take their place among the other best teams on the continent in Morocco. 

The second box ticked was legendary defender Janine van Wyk earning her record 185th cap. The third was coach Desiree Ellis' 100th match in charge of the team. 

Ellis started deploying Van Wyk in the middle of the field where she operated with Jermaine Seoposenwe, Motlhalo and Noxolo Cesane. That meant Van Wyk inscribed her name in the history books of African football as she became the most-capped footballer from the continent, male or female. 

Van Wyk, who was replaced by Lebohang Ramalepe after eight minutes to rapturous applause by the small crowd, broke the long-standing record held by Egyptian legend Ahmed Hassan. 

Ellis, who steered Banyana to becoming the first senior national team to progress past the group stage at a Fifa World Cup in Australasia this year, sat in the Banyana dug-out for the 100th time since taking over as caretaker from Vera Pauw in 2016. 

South Africa were on the offensive from the start and had numerous chances that threatened Burkina Faso goalkeeper Faoziatou Ouedraogo, their most notable attempt bouncing off the upright. 

Banyana created the better scoring chances of the opening half but twin strikers Hilda Magaia and Thembi Kgatlana lacked the killer instinct to punish their modest opponents. 

Burkina Faso could have opened the scoring after 24 minutes but goalkeeper Kaylin Swart moved off her line to thwart Limata Nikiema after she got the better of Noko Matlou and Lonathemba Mhlongo. 

Banyana came back from the break with greater purpose and their persistence paid off in the 54th minute when Ramalepe forced Rasmata Sawadogo to concede a penalty. 

Ramalepe’s clever ball inside the box hit the outstretched right hand of Sawadogo, leaving Rwandan referee Salima Mukansanga no choice but to point to the spot. 

Motlhalo showed nerves of steel as she stepped up under pressure to put the ball past Ouedraogo, who dived the right way but was beaten by the speed of the ball in the 56th minute. 

Due to the heat, the quality of the match deteriorated, but Burkina Faso nearly sneaked it with a late goal through a close-range shot by Yasso Konate that was denied by Swart. 

Two minutes from time, Banyana put the match beyond doubt when promising attacker Michael put the ball in the back of the net past Ouedraogo to seal a place at Wafcon.