South Africa humiliated in Japan! National team gets a hiding

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South Africa humiliated in Japan! National team gets a hiding
Photo - Imago

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana fell 5-0 to Japan in an international friendly game played on Saturday morning.

Desiree Ellis and Mzansi were using the match to prepare for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), to be held in Morocco from July 26 to August 16. South Africa are in Group B with the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania.

It explains why the technical team gave a chance to some players to prove their worth, with a few of the experienced ones starting from the bench.

Banyana start on wrong footing

The hosts started the game on a bright note; goalkeeper Andile Dlamini failed to deal with a cross from the right, allowing Brighton & Hove Albion star Kiko Seike to tap the ball into an empty net.

The South Africans took time to settle as opposed to Japan. It explains the second goal in the 18th minute as the English-based attacker Seike capitalised on defensive frailties completed her brace to give Japan a 2-0 lead.

Liverpool midfielder Fuka Nagano dispossessed Refiloe Jane before setting up her teammate for the strike.

Manchester City custodian Ayaka Yamashita did well to deny Gabriela Salgado, who had done well to find space to shoot. But it was Japan who got their third strike in the 29th minute as Bayern Munich midfielder Momoko Tinakawa’s rocket found it’s way past Dlamini.

Things get worse for Banyana Banyana

Whatever Ellis told her team during the half-time break definitely didn’t work as Manchester City’s Aoba Fujino made it 4-0 just moments after the restart.

With 30 minutes to go, a good interchange between Manaka Matsukubo and Fujino ended with the latter getting his second of the day.

Ellis hopes her team can do better on Tuesday when they meet again at J-Green Sakai Stadium.

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

Willis Sob

Author

Willis Sob is an experienced journalist who has been in the game since 2009, covering major assignments around the continent.
His hunger for African football is unmatched, always getting the best angles and facts to feed the fans and quench their thirst.

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