Majiya strike decides tight WAFCON prep as Mbane earns 100th cap

Nthabiseng Majiya’s clinical finish was the difference as Banyana Banyana secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Algeria in the first of two international friendlies at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Tuesday afternoon.

While the scoreline favoured the hosts, the afternoon belonged to the captain of the day, Bambanani Mbane, who joined an elite group of South African football legends by earning her 100th senior international cap.

Centurion Mbane Leads Banyana to Victory Over Algeria

In a match designed to sharpen the squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), coach Desiree Ellis’ side faced a disciplined and physical Algerian outfit.

The opening half-hour was a cagey affair. Despite South Africa making all the right moves in the final third, clear-cut chances were hard to come by. Majiya served an early warning in the 13th minute when she was denied from close range, while Algeria remained a constant threat on the counter, sending a powerful effort over the bar at the 25-minute mark.

The South African defence had to stay switched on as Algeria grew into the game. The hosts arguably enjoyed a bit of “home ground” luck, surviving two major penalty appeals—one in each half—as the referee waved away North African protests.

However, the deadlock was finally broken by Nthabiseng Majiya, who made amends for her earlier miss by finding the back of the net. Her beautiful strike from range proved enough to hand South Africa the win and valuable momentum heading into the second leg.

With CAF recently announcing that WAFCON 2026 has been rescheduled for 25 July – 16 August 2026, Coach Ellis emphasised the importance of these fixtures.

“With the continental competition delayed, it is vital to keep the players active against quality opposition,” Ellis noted, highlighting that the focus remains on building a squad capable of defending their status among Africa’s best.

What’s Next For South Africa?

The two sides will lock horns again this Friday, 17 April, in the second friendly match in Durban. Having secured the win on Tuesday, Ellis may look to rotate her squad to further test her options ahead of the rescheduled showpiece in 2026.