Former Banyana Banyana captain Nthabeleng ‘Dunga’ Modiko insists the team should be proud of their efforts at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations despite finishing fourth.
Banyana relinquished their continental crown and missed out on a medal after losing the third-place play-off to Ghana in a dramatic penalty shootout this past weekend.
Speaking to SABC Sport, Modiko says there were numerous challenges the team faced during and leading up to the continental tournament, including the withdrawal of a key player like Thembi Kgatlana.
"I think Banyana faced a lot of challenges, externally and maybe also internally, that contributed to them not being able to fully focus on the tournament at hand," said Modiko.
"So the performance, I think we were impressed to see them going past Ghana in the opening match, and also the impressive display against Mali with the many goals.
"And, like I said, those external factors do come in – we are missing key players like Thembi Kgatlana in the squad, and you know you need her qualities as well.
"Internal things like the injury [to Salgado] they also faced will put some pressure on the players, and I think overall the performance, for me, was better.
"I'm glad that we were not eliminated in the early stages, like the group stages or in the quarter-finals. I can take the semi-finals because at least we have not lost our pedigree as a powerhouse of African women's football."
The University of Johannesburg head coach says she understands why the 2022 champions may be disappointed by not winning a medal.
"I think every player who does not get that tangible reward of a medal will feel hard done by, and it is a disappointment, especially for the players, for instance, that were looking to retire – they wanted to retire with something in their hands as a form of a farewell," she added.
"So the disappointment will be there, but it's how champions are made. It's how you bounce back that matters most, and it's how you're able to take all the lessons you learnt because there are so many lessons from this tournament.
"I wouldn't put too much emphasis on them having not won any medal – yes, it is a disappointment, but it's not all that is lost, the team is still strong and still considered a formidable squad and the players themselves are still quality, so there's always a next time."
