Day one of the 2024 Hollywoodbets Cosafa Women’s Championship saw Eswatini record their biggest victory at the tournament beating debutantes Seychelles 6-0 in the opening match, before hosts South Africa edged neighbours Namibia 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday.
Tenanile Ngcamphalala scored a hat-trick, one goal coming in the first half and the other two in the second, while captain Celiwe Nkambule grabbed a brace and Nokuthula Ndlovu scored the other one.
The score could have been higher as coach Bongani Makhukhula’s charges had a goal disallowed in the first half.
ғᴜʟʟ ᴛɪᴍᴇ sᴄᴏʀᴇs
— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) October 22, 2024
Eswatini 🇸🇿 6 VS Seychelles 🇸🇨 0#HCWC2024 pic.twitter.com/Al3rwcDU2f
In the later kick-off, hosts South Africa scored late on to defeat 2022 semifinalist Namibia.
ғᴜʟʟ ᴛɪᴍᴇ sᴄᴏʀᴇs :
— COSAFA (@COSAFAMEDIA) October 22, 2024
South Africa 🇿🇦 1 VS Namibia 🇳🇦0#HCWC2024 pic.twitter.com/yxDRf8bURJ
Banyana have brought a fairly inexperienced squad that could not convert several chances, especially in the opening half.
Keisha Hendricks was guilty of missing the target but with Tshegofatso Motlogelwa marshalling the midfield, they were largely on top.
No goals at half-time in Gqeberha ⚽❌
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 22, 2024
Tanna Hollis comes closest to an opening goal 👇
📺 Stream #HCWC2024 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc #HereForHer pic.twitter.com/anNtj4n4yR
Hendricks did find the back of the net in the early stages of the second period but was flagged offside.
Zenatha Coleman showed leadership and experience for the Brave Gladiators, setting up Irene Kooper, but the latter was unlucky to not find the back of the net.
It was the Coleman-Kooper combination again in the dying minutes of the game with the captain setting up her teammate, who was denied by the woodwork.
Banyana had an immediate reaction with a quick counterattack and Isabella Ludwig set up Motlogelwa, who finally broke the deadlock to take the points.
Tshogofatso Motlogelwa opens South Africa's account 🤩⚽#HCWC2024 | #HereForHer pic.twitter.com/WmTEAifxVk
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 22, 2024
Eswatini top Group A with three points, followed by Banyana Banyana in second on goal-difference.
Day two will see Group B get under way with Madagascar and Mauritius opening proceedings at 12pm CAT and defending champions Malawi taking on Botswana in the second match of the day at 3pm CAT.
Meanwhile, due to water damage caused by recent heavy rains in Nelson Mandela Bay, there has been a change of venues for matches in the coming days.
Plans to move to the Gelvandale Stadium from Wednesday have been shelved due to extensive water damage.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is unavailable having been pre-booked for other events.
Instead, the matches will be played as follows:
Fixtures from 23-25 October will now take place at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium.
Fixtures from 26-29 October will take place at the Madibaz Stadium at the Nelson Mandela University.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be used as an alternate venue for the simultaneous kick-offs in Group A and Group B on 28 October.
The semifinals (31 October) and final (2 November) will be played at the Isaac Wolfson Stadium as planned.
Entrance for fans to all matches will be FREE of charge, with tickets available at the stadium on match day.
They distributed on a first come, first served basis.
If you cannot get to the stadium, you can watch all matches streamed LIVE on Fifa+.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Group A
Eswatini 6 (Nkambule 4′, 53′, Ngcamphalala 45′, 62′, 66′, Ndlovu 70′) Seychelles 0
South Africa 1 (Motlogelwa 84′) Namibia 0
WEDNESDAY’S FIXTURES
Group B – Wolfson Stadium
Madagascar v Mauritius (KO 12pm CAT)
Malawi v Botswana (KO 3pm CAT)
