The South Africa Women’s Team qualified for the knockout stage of the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup following a 3-2 victory over Italy at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Wednesday.
Banyana Banyana Kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 defeat to Sweden before drawing a 2-2 Argentina in Group G.
South Africa who are making their second appearance at the World Cup finally got their long-awaited win at the tournament with goals from Thembi Kgatlana, Hildah Magaia, and an own goal from Benedetta Orsi.
Italy’s Arianna Carusoen put Italy in the lead ten minutes into the game from the spot following Karabo Dhlamini’s foul on Chiara Beccari at the edge of the box.
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Speaking after the match, South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis described her players as heroines.
“They fought like the heroines that we know that they are,” she said. “They fought to be historically remembered and they have made history not just getting our first win, but going to the round of 16 and that is freaking amazing.”
“Nobody gave us a chance”- Ellis
The three times CAF Female Coach of the Year Award winner said nobody gave her team a chance against Italy but her team knew what they were capable of doing
“Nobody gave us a chance today but we knew what we were capable of. This is for everyone back home.”
South Africa will now face the Netherlands in the knockout stage on Sunday in their quest to reach the Quarterfinals for the first time.
They will look to make history again by becoming the second African team, after Nigeria, to reach the quarterfinals after exiting the 2019 edition in the group stage with no wins.
