South Africa will be venturing into familiar territory when they go into the final of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Afcon against Morocco on Saturday.
This will mark Banyana Banyana’s fifth final in the continental contest, however they will be hoping to do one better than the first four times they played in the finals.
The Desiree Ellis led side is yet to lift the trophy and they will be hoping the lessons from the other finals will help them get one over the hosts the Atlas Lionesses, who will be playing in their maiden final.
Banyana should use their experience from the past finals to record their first title however, they should be aware that playing a home team, may prove fatal if they don’t play smart.
2018- Nigeria 0-0 ( 4-3) South Africa
The 2018 edition can be marked as Banyana’s best final in the competition. Heading into the final without midfield maestro, Refiloe Jane might have impacted the team’s plans for the match. Banyana were still in high spirits after having defeated the Super Falcons in the group stages of the match and they kept the same fighting spirit and the game, however Nigeria were also up to the task and pushed the match to the penalties where the nine time champions proved superior.
2012- Equatorial Guinea 4-0 South Africa
The red sea of the Nzalang Femenino supporters was one of the biggest factors that led to Banyana’s demise. Genoveva Añonman was one of the three goal scorers in the match, which took her tally to six of the tournament, making her the top goal scorer in the competition while Gloria Chinasa scored a brace with Adriana Aparecida Costa having scored the other. South Africa’s biggest Achilles heel was not being able to compose themselves and focus on the final after they beat Nigeria for the first time curtesy of a Janine van Wyk goal.
2008- Equatorial Guinea 2-1 South Africa
Añonma was again Nzalang Femenino’s named the top player of the tournament following her incredible showing which also saw her score the most goals in the compeititon. She was also the pain in Banyana’s side and scored in this final. Veteran Matlou scored in this match but it wasn’t enough to give South Africa the glory.
2000- Nigeria 2-0 South Africa
Banyana’s loss to Nigeria in this final might have been one of the most painful, especially losing out on the title on home soil. Although the match was not played to a full 90 minutes, the Falcons where were leading the game 2-0 in the 73rd minute were declared winners of the match after supporters hailed objects on the pitch. This was a lessons to the South Africans that the home ground advantage will not always count in their favour.
In the four finals they’ve played in Banyana Banyana have finished as a runner-up four time.
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) July 22, 2022
Can they get over the line against the first-time finalists Morocco? ??#WAFCON2022