Banyana Banyana, the African champions, began their COSAFA Women’s Championship campaign with a 4-3 loss to Malawi on Wednesday. Coach Desiree Ellis was without the majority of her 2023 FIFA World Cup squad, and as a result, called up a number of Hollywoodbets Super League players, many of whom made their national team debuts.
Banyana found themselves 2-1 down in the first half after Thubelihle Shamase saw her goal cancelled out by Leticia Chinyamula and Tabitha Chawinga. The Malawians extended their lead in the second half with Chawinga netting two more goals to complete her hat-trick. Khensani Nkuna and Sphumelele Shamase pulled two goals back for Banyana in the final 12 minutes, but it wasn’t enough to secure victory as Malawi held on for the three points.
Banyana will have another chance to get their first win of the tournament on Saturday against Madagascar at the Dobsonville Stadium, with the match kicking off at 12h00.
