Banyana defeat Madagascar to finish top of Group A

Banyana Banyana defeated Madagascar 3-0 at the women’s Cosafa Cup at Wolfson stadium, Port Elizabeth, to finish top of Group A with nine points.

Ode Fulutudilu opened the scoring in the ninth minute, then followed captain Refiloe Jane in the 38^th minute while Lalaina Farida contributed to the score-line with an own goal in the 76^th minute.

South Africa coach Desiree Ellis made six changes to the squad that won 3-1 against Malawi. Ellis says the plan was to always score early.

The senior national side mentor knows the semi-finals are going to be a different ball game altogether adding that she is glad to have seen most of the girls play in the group stage.

Banyana have conceded one goal in the first round and Ellis is pleased to go into the last four with a consistent defense.

Madagascar finished third in the group with three points from their three matches. With the help of a translator, coach Hortensia Mamahasina feels her girls performed much better in their third appearance in the regional tournament.

The coach also says the people of Madagascar should not lose faith in women’s football as it is improving. – Report by Lethabo Kganyago