Sasol Banyana Banyana booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2014 African Women’s Championship in style when they beat Algeria 5 – 1 this past Saturday at the Independence stadium.

The South African ladies struggled at the start of the tournament, losing to Cameroon and playing to a draw against Ghana in their first two matches, but they came back and kept their hopes of qualifying for the 2015 World Cup alive by beating Algeria with a convincing score.

The five goals secured Banyana Banyana a place in the semi-finals as they were fighting it out with Ghana for that spot. After Ghana beat Cameroon 1 – 0 in the other match, Banyana Banyana still booked their place in the last four through goal difference.

“We had been scoring goals before the tournament in our preparation matches, but we did not play stronger opponents. It has been the pressure of the opponents in the first two matches that we had never experienced that saw us not get maximum points. It shows that it is crucial to play stronger opponents in preparation matches. The ladies have been playing very well as a team, and this shows because the players of the match came from us in all three games, it is just that  luck was not on our side in the first two matches ,” said coach Vera Pauw.

Sasol Banyana Banyana finished second in group B and will face the Super Falcons of Nigeria on Wednesday, 22 October.

Pauw continued “I’m relieved that the players dealt with the pressure very well as a group, I’m proud that they focused on the game plan that we had and executed it very well. Our next challenge against Nigeria is going to be very tough, we have not faced a team as strong as Nigeria before. We need to move on and focus on that match and I’m confident that we will do well.”

Veteran striker Portia Modise scored her 100^th goal in national team colours in that match, making her the first footballer in South Africa to ever reach that mark from 117 caps.

Modise said “I would have not reached the 100 goals mark if it was not for my team mates, they have been the driving force behind my achievement. We all believe in team work and through the support I get from the team. The goals are not only for me, but for my country and the whole Banyana Banyana team.

The semi-final match against Nigeria will kick-off at 17h00 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Katutura.