KWAMASHU, KWAZULU-NATAL – South Africa’s senior women’s national team, Banyana Banyana, continued their strong momentum with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Algeria in an international friendly at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. This match served as an invaluable opportunity for the reigning African champions to fine-tune their tactics in preparation for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
All eyes were on Bambanani Mbane, who marked a historic milestone with her 100th international cap, but it was Nthabiseng Majiya’s clinical finish that stole the spotlight, securing the win and providing the decisive moment in this tightly contested encounter.
Majiya Breaks the Deadlock
The match started as a tactical battle, with Algeria adopting a high-pressing and physical approach that disrupted South Africa’s rhythm. Despite the early struggles, Banyana Banyana broke the deadlock in the 35th minute with a moment of brilliance from Majiya.
A perfectly timed pass from Refiloe Jane found Majiya in space just outside the box, where she unleashed a powerful strike into the bottom corner of the net. The goal sent the home crowd into raptures and gave South Africa a vital lead to hold onto for the remainder of the match.
Defensive Resilience and Injury Woes
The second half tested the resilience of South Africa’s defense as Algeria sought an equalizer with increased intensity. Ines Khiri was a constant threat from range, forcing the Banyana Banyana backline into several crucial blocks. The match’s intensity was heightened by a late injury to veteran goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who was substituted after a heavy collision while making a save. Coach Desiree Ellis will have her fingers crossed for Dlamini’s swift recovery ahead of the team’s next fixture.
Despite two contentious late penalty shouts from the Algerian bench, South Africa stood firm, holding their shape and maintaining their clean sheet to seal the victory.
Building Toward the WAFCON Title Defense
This win provides a positive start to a crucial international window. With the 2026 WAFCON draw placing South Africa in a competitive Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso, these high-stakes friendlies against North African teams are essential for building squad depth and fine-tuning team dynamics.
Next Fixture:
Banyana Banyana won’t have much time to rest, as they prepare to face Algeria again in a second friendly on Friday, April 17. Afterward, the team will travel to Japan in June for their final global preparations ahead of WAFCON.
Match Summary
- Result: South Africa 1-0 Algeria
- Scorer: Nthabiseng Majiya (35’)
- Milestone: Bambanani Mbane (100th Cap)
- Venue: Princess Magogo Stadium
