The South Africa women's national team, Banyana Banyana, earned their second victory over Lesotho on Tuesday with a 2-0 result at the UJ Soweto Campus. Sibongile Ntoane and Unathi Simayile scored in the first half for the hosts, who also defeated Lesotho 1-0 three days earlier.
Lesotho were little match for Banyana, whose coach Desiree Ellis used this week to explore new options in the squad with foreign-based players not called in to focus on their club duties. While the absence of star players may have reduced the amount of goals scored against Lesotho, Banyana controlled early proceedings and Ntoane scored the opener inside five minutes.
It was more of the same after the opening goal as Banyana continued to create opportunities and dominate their less pedigreed local opponents. The hosts doubled their lead just before halftime when a corner kick created chaos in the Lesotho penalty area and Simayile was in the right place to turn in from close range.
Now the attention for coach Ellis and Banyana Banyana turns to the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the finals of which take place starting July 5 in host nation Morocco. Banyana will face Ghana, Mali and Tanzania as the defending champions attempt to defend their crown as the top force in African women's football.
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