South Africa made heavy work as they squandered a myriad of easy-looking chances but still ensured their progress at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by beating Burundi 3-1 in Rabat on Thursday.
It was a second victory at the tournament in Morocco for Banyana Banyana, ensuring their progress to next week’s quarterfinal, with goals from reigning African Women’s Footballer of the Year Thembi Kgatlana, Amogelang Motau and substitute Linda Motlhako.
But it was the embarrassing performance that coach Desiree Ellis had feared. She had warned before the match of complacency and under-estimating the tiny Burundi, making their debut and the lowest ranked of the 12 teams at the tournament.
South Africa’s list of missed sitters should have them cringing with embarrassment, including a penalty miss and twice going round the goalkeeper only to miss the target.
Kgatlana was particularly guilty with both poor finishing and selfish play while Jermaine Seoposenwe, back in the team after a three-year absence, had her penalty on the stroke of halftime saved.
Banyana were on the hunt from the opening minute but looked overconfident and were sloppy with their finishing, taking 20 minutes before Kgatlana eventually broke the deadlock, virtually walking the ball into the net after a series of slick passes.
But Ellis was furious as South Africa conceded to Burundi’s only real attack of the game some 10 minutes later. The coach had said before the match she wanted to keep a clean sheet after conceding late in Monday’s 2-1 win over Nigeria.
But winger Asha Djafari teased South Africa down the left wing before setting up an equaliser for Aniella Uwimana.
Motau had South Africa back ahead two minutes later with her first international coach, chipping the ball wide of the goalkeeper after being set up by Robyn Moodaly, who was another guilty of wasting chances.
Seoposenwe’s penalty in stoppage time at the end of the first half was expertly stopped by Burundi’s goalkeeper Jeanine Irakoze, who played with an eccentric mix of brilliance in shot stopping and total confusion with her positioning.
Irakoze gave away a second penalty with a clumsy tackle on Kgatlana in the 52nd minute allowing Motlhako, who had come on at halftime for Moodaly to score.
Burundi had tall defender Annociate Nshimirimana sent off in the 72nd minute after a lengthy VAR check. Her hack on Seoposenwe’s was adjudged to be stopping a clear goalscoring chance by the last player in defence.
But Banyana failed to take make use of the numerical advantage after that, as they continued to miss the goal.
It was a second defeat for Burundi, who lost 4-2 to Botswana in their opening game. They are next up against Nigeria on Sunday while South Africa take on Botswana.