International Friendly: Banyana Banyana fight back to complete double over Malawi

Photo Credit: Football Association of Malawi

South Africa’s senior women’s football team came from behind to upset Malawi 2-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, and complete a double over the Scorchers.

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis made several changes to the starting XI that beat Malawi 3-0 in the first friendly on Saturday. The same was the case with Malawi mentor Lovemore Fazili who threw in action Asimenye Simwaka. The attacker had missed the first match played at the University of Johannesburg-Soweto Stadium.

On a soggy pitch that made playing challenging, the hosts looked the better of the two sides. South Africa bombarded the visitors’ goal and were only denied by goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo’s brilliance until the half ended goalless.

When play restarted, Thembi Kgatlana nearly broke the deadlock when she fired a rebound only for Chisomo Banda to block the effort for a corner kick which yielded nothing in the 51st minute.

Against the run of play, Malawi scored six minutes later through Vanessa Chikupira’s header from a left-flank Irene Khumalo’s corner-kick which Banyana Banyana's defence failed to clear.

The goal jolted South Africa into action as they piled the pressure on the visitors who finally conceded from a corner kick. Sikelo cleared a corner-kick onto the path of Hilda Magaia who squeezed her effort into the net from the crowded box with 15 minutes to go.

With three minutes remaining, Banyana Banyana completed the comeback when Amogelang Motau scored. Sikelo was at fault for the goal as she made a mess of Motau’s free-kick. The win ensured South Africa’s dominance over the Scorchers.

Malawi are fine-tuning for a WAFCON qualifying match against Angola while Banyana Banyana are preparing for the actual continental finals.