Banyana look to be better

South Africa will be hoping for a much-improved performance and the chance to secure top place in their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals group, when they meet Mali in Oudja on Monday as the last of the first-round matches are played.

Group C concludes with Banyana’s clash with Mali being played at the same time as Ghana against Tanzania in Berkane, after which the line-up for the last eight at the tournament in Morocco will be decided.

South Africa and Mali both have four points while Ghana and Tanzania sit on one each.

That means the winner of the Mali-Banyana clash is guaranteed top place while if the game is a draw then South Africa will finish top by virtue of a better goal difference.

But if Banyana lose, they are still sure to go through, either in second spot or as one of the best two third-placed finishers.

The winner of the Ghana-Tanzania clash will also qualify, either as runner-up or in third spot, so there is plenty to play for in both matches.

Banyana were made to look quite ordinary in their 1-1 draw with Tanzania on Friday, showing nothing of the confidence they exhibited when beating Ghana in their opening match.

But coach Desiree Ellis insisted her side were unfortunate not to have won and that there is no panic in the defending champions’ camp.

“No game is easy, you saw on Thursday night where Nigeria scored in the last minute to beat Botswana. That is how difficult games are going to be and you have to take your chances,” she said.

“We had a few chances. We wanted to get all three points, but it was not to be.”

Mali, whose key player Aïssata Traoré this week signed to play in the US National Women’s Soccer League, will likely prove a tough physical opponent and again provide the South Africans with a testing time.

Ghana are three-time former runners-up at the tournament but missed the last edition of WAFCON and must win on Monday to advance in these finals.

They have been looking to recapture some of their lost lustre but are yet to convince, even if their coach is confident.

“If we do the same performance again, I’m sure that we are going to win the third game and if we do that, we are probably in the quarterfinals,” said Black Queens coach Kim Lars Bjorkegren after the 1-1 draw against Mali on Friday, which was Ghana’s first point of the competition.