BANYANA Banyana 2026 plans were thrown into a scramble as CAF postponed the Wafcon to July, but the squad's preparations are on a good track after hosting Algeria in Durban.
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South Africa women’s national football team wrapped up a successful international window with a commanding 2-0 victory over Algeria women’s national football team at a packed King Zwelithini Stadium on Friday evening.
Having edged the first encounter 1-0 earlier in the week at Princess Magogo Stadium, Banyana completed a deserved double — one built on defensive solidity and improved attacking cohesion.
The breakthrough arrived in the 58th minute, with Nthabiseng Majiya continuing her fine form by netting her second goal in as many matches.
The forward once again proved decisive, timing her run to perfection before finishing with composure.
The result was then sealed late on by substitute Shakira O’Malley, who added a second goal four minutes from time to cap off a polished second-half display.
For head coach Desiree Ellis, the outcome was important — but the performance and broader objectives mattered more.
“It is always good to win but the main thing was to test the players so that we could see how far we are. But I think the team that we put on the park today was good enough and they held their own and looked like they have been playing together for a while.
“We are happy that we played all three goalkeepers and still did not concede. I also feel our defence was solid. We also managed to score goals, so this was a worthwhile exercise,” said Ellis.
The match also carried personal significance for defender Karabo Dhlamini, who marked her 50th cap for the national team — a milestone she celebrated with a composed performance at the back.
“I feel excited, I’m very honored, I’m happy we were able to win the game and finish on a positive note. I thank the girls for making it a nice day for me,” she said.
“To me this means the preparations are going very well but we’re still gonna improve and so we have to go back and see what we could work on. I think these two games helped us a lot because we’ll find teams that play like Algeria.”
Banyana’s defensive organisation stood out across both fixtures, limiting Algeria to very few clear-cut opportunities while showing improved communication across the backline.
The midfield unit also displayed better balance, linking defence and attack with greater fluidity as the team continues to refine its structure.
With the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon, the back-to-back victories offer both confidence and clarity for the technical team.
Next up for Banyana is a sterner test, with international friendlies against Japan women’s national football team scheduled for June in Osaka — fixtures that will provide a clearer indication of their readiness for continental competition.