Eshun header sinks goal-shy Banyana as Black Queens capture bronze
Ghana
tle for the fourth spot for a second successive AWC campaign.
This should lead to serious introspection. Before the 2014 edition, Banyana consistently made the top-three of the AWC.
In Cameroon they flirted with being a good side that could challenge for continental supremacy but were let down by poor finishing. In the last AWC in Namibia, Banyana were a shadow of themselves. In this campaign they located where they had lost their soul but just couldn’t bring themselves to returning it where it belongs. If they finish in this position in the next AWC in Ghana, they will not go to France for the 2019 World Cup.
For the better part of this match Banyana looked like they would at least get the bronze medal.
Refiloe Jane came close to finding the opener with her head. Her first effort kissed the roof of the net and the second went narrowly wide. On both occasions Banyana managed to open the Black Queens’ defence with their skill and patient build-up. They did everything but find the back of the net.
Sadly, that’s been their story this campaign. They have held their own against all opposition, strong, tall, experienced, defending champions and the hosts. The only thing that let them down was their finishing. Had they been more clinical, they would have been contesting the real final, not the loser’s one.
Both coaches, Desiree Ellis and Yusif Basigi, said all the right things leading up to this match – how this was an opportunity to bounce back from their semi-final defeats and how a bronze medal would go some way to healing their broken hearts.
But they couldn’t hide the fact that this was a match no nation wants to be involved in, especially when it’s not a World Cup year, because in that instance the team that finishes third qualifies for the global showpiece. This time it was only bronze on offer.
That’s why the match started sluggishly, not helped by the heat that hit Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé.
The Black Queens looked to impose their height advantage on Banyana, who responded with speed and skill.
The latter won, but not entirely because they didn’t make it count. Ghana made the most of the only real chance they created. Linda Eshun managed to evade captain Janine van Wyk in the Ban- yana box and headed home the winner and a podium finish from Portia Boakye’s corner kick.
Banyana didn’t drop their heads after conceding that goal. It spurred them on. On the hour mark they had created enough chances to win this match comfortably.
A swift counter-attack put Mamello Makhabane in a good position to unleash a shot. Moments later the lanky Andisiwe Mgcoyi squeezed past two defenders to connect with Leandra Smeda’s cross.
In both instances Banyana didn’t even test goalkeeper Patricia Mantey. Makhabane’s shot hit her own teammate, Silindile Ngubane.
Mgcoyi connected the ball with her thigh instead of the outside boot, taking her effort over the bar.
This finish puts Ellis in a tight spot in her efforts to become permanent head coach instead of leading the side in the interim like she did in this tournament.