Mabe backs Banyana to bounce back despite Tanzania defeat

The South African national team suffered a 2-1 loss to a resilient Tanzanian side at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Monday.

Mabe praised Banyana’s fighting spirit despite the setback, saying the key going forward will be converting their chances in front of goal.

“Indeed, it was a strong performance by the ladies. This is just the beginning, and we still have upcoming fixtures to prove our point. We were trailing 1-0 in the first half, and our girls came back to equalise - all thanks to Bambanani Mbane. I still believe we have a very good chance of qualifying for the World Cup, considering the experience our national team has,” said Mabe.

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Mabe, who is in Morocco supporting the national team, also called for greater investment in women’s football, urging corporate South Africa to play a bigger role in growing the game across the continent.

“Currently, we want women’s football to be professionalised. Not every team has qualified to compete at this level. I call upon corporations to support and invest in women’s football. That is the only way we can see our league becoming fully professional. We know the game will gain even more traction if our ladies win this championship, but even if they don’t, we must continue to recognise and support them,” added Mabe.

Despite the defeat, Banyana also celebrated midfielder Linda Motlhalo, who earned her 100th cap for the national team. South Africa will now turn their attention to their remaining Group B fixtures against Ivory Coast on Friday and Burkina Faso next Tuesday.