Banyana Banyana's Remarkable Journey: Reaching the Knockout Stages of the 2023 Women's World Cup
by Yunchu Li | by Yunchu Li
A Journey of Inspiration and Progress
South Africa's national women's football team embarked on a historic and inspiring journey during the group stage of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Drawn in a challenging Group G alongside Sweden, Argentina, and Italy, Banyana Banyana came into the tournament as one of the biggest outsiders and lowest-ranked nations at the event, having never earned a point at the Women’s World Cup. However, their performances in the group stage captured the hearts of football fans worldwide and showcased the immense progress and talent within women's football in South Africa.
In their opening match, Banyana Banyana faced the formidable Sweden, who are ranked third in the world and knew they were up against one of the tournament favourites, but they entered the game with determination and a fighting spirit. Banyana Banyana displayed impressive resilience in the face of Sweden's attacking prowess and got the first goal but were unable to hang on as the Swedes fought their way back into the contest before grabbing a stoppage-time winner to secure the points and the lead in the group.
In their second group stage match, Banyana Banyana faced Argentina in a game that was crucial for both teams, as they were aiming to secure valuable points to advance to the knockout stages. Once again, Banyana Banyana showed their attacking intent from the start, putting the Argentine defence under pressure, and it paid off in the 30th minute when Linda Motlhalo unleashed a powerful shot to give Banyana Banyana the lead. The second half was a tense affair, with both teams pushing for a winner, but the match ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw, and was a significant achievement for Banyana Banyana, as it marked their first-ever point at a Women's World Cup.
In their final group stage match, Banyana Banyana faced Italy, and with their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages hanging in the balance, it was a must-win encounter for the South African team. Italy took the early lead with a penalty goal from Arianna Caruso in the 11th minute, but despite the setback, Banyana Banyana displayed composure and resilience, refusing to let the early goal deflate their spirits. In the 32nd minute, Soth Africa found their breakthrough when Benedetta Orsi played a no-look backpass into her own net, and the comeback was well and truly on.
In the second half, South African skipper Thembi Kgatlana produced a performance of note as she led the South African charge with incredible pace and trickery that the Italians had little answer to. The skipper set up Hildah Magaia with a delicious through ball to take the lead before finishing off the final goal herself after Italy drew level. The match ended in a historic 3-2 victory for South Africa, marking their first-ever win at a Women's World Cup, and with it came their qualification to the knockout stages.
Can Banyana Banyana pull off a fairytale ending?
Banyana Banyana now sets their sights on facing the Netherlands in the round of 16 at the iconic Allianz Stadium on August 6th. The Netherlands, currently ranked ninth in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, are a strong and formidable opponent that will undoubtedly pose a challenge for the South African team. However, after their spirited performance against Italy, Banyana Banyana has shown they are capable of taking on top-tier teams and have announced themselves as a potential dark horse in the competition.
The Netherlands boast a talented squad and is considered one of the favourites in the tournament. They have a track record of success in international competitions and are known for their attacking style of play. In fact, to put into perspective just how much they are expected to win this match, we can take a look at the current bookmaker odds, which shows South Africa as a 9/1 outsider and 251/1 shot to go on to lift the trophy on 20 August 2023 at Stadium Australia.
South Africa’s undoubted strength lies in their pace and trickery, which has been almost uncontainable in this competition, as they showed in each of their group-stage matches. However, their clear weakness lies in their ability to defend set pieces, which is where they have conceded four of the six goals against them, and this will be a key battle in the upcoming match as the Netherlands are a side that have shown they are very good from dead-ball situations.
Check out all the 2023 Women’s World Cup betting tips at SportyTrader.
Analysing Banyana Banyana's Chances
While Banyana Banyana faces a tough challenge against the Netherlands, their recent performance against Italy showcased their potential to compete at the highest level. The team has proven that they have the ability to score goals and create opportunities, backed by players like Hildah Magaia and Thembi Kgatlana, who have shown their pace and ability in front of goal.
Based on the good old eye test, Banyana Banyana were probably the best-attacking side in Group G and would likely have qualified much more easily had their defence faired better against set-pieces. Having gone toe-to-toe with the formidable Swedes and the solid Argentines, South Africa’s strong sense of unity and determination is exactly what is required to progress even further in the competition.
Their journey so far has been a testament to their growth and determination, and they have earned the admiration and support of fans worldwide. The upcoming match against the Netherlands promises to be a thrilling encounter, and Banyana Banyana have proven that they are ready to take on the world's best teams. It would not surprise us if they pull off yet another massive upset in the upcoming encounter.
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Odds for Banyana Banyana to win their upcoming fixture
- South Africa to beat Netherlands - 9.0
- South Africa to draw - 6.0
- South Africa to win the 2023 Women’s World Cup - 251.0
- Netherlands to beat South Africa - 1.25
