TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s Under-17 women’s national football side coach, Maud Khumalo, said the 6-0 thrashing by Nigeria was a rude awakening for her team.

On Saturday, Bantwana, as the South Africans are otherwise known, lost to the Flamingos of Nigeria in the first leg of the final round of the U-17 FIFA World Cup qualifiers played at the Abuja National Stadium.

Atinuke Fajobi scored a brace while captain Busayo Ajibade scored four goals, all six coming in the in the first half, to condemn the visitors and leave them with a mountain to climb in the return leg set for Johannesburg in a fortnight.

Khumalo blamed a number of factors.

“This was always going to be a tough ask of the girls considering they haven’t played an international match up to this stage, but such is football,” she said upon returning to South Africa.

Bantwana had not played an official match due to the withdrawal of Zambia earlier this year and lack of match fitness was evident earlier on.

“I believe we gave the Nigerians too much respect in the first half. We also had a lapse in concentration and lack to communication in the first half but in the second half we played to our strengths.

With his side staring elimination, Khumalo can only hope for an improved performance.

“We showed that we can hold them and with more practice, we believe we have what it takes to do better in the second leg,” she said.

– CAJ News