By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa thrashed Mozambique 7-0 in the first round, first leg of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2022 qualifiers at the Estadio do Zimpeto, Maputo on Wednesday.
Coach Desiree Ellis were smarting from their worst outing in the COSAFA Women’s Championship history in Nelson Mandela Bay after they ended their rare trophyless campaign early this October.
Banyana Banyana raced into the lead in the 22nd minute when Melinda Kgadiete fired past Mozambique goalkeeper Eva Costa before Linda Motlhalo doubled the advantage in the 41st minute.
On the brink of half time, the rampant visitors added the third when Gabriela Salgado struck deep inside first-half stoppage time.
Banyana continued from where they left off in the first half when captain Janine van Wyk notched the fourth in the 64th minute before Salgado bagged her second of the contest a minute later.
The onslaught continued for the ruthless seven-time COSAFA winners as Noxolo Cesane netted the sixth goal in the 77th minute before Motlhalo also secured her brace a minute from time to complete the clinical away triumph.
The healthy away win saw Ellis’ team put one foot in the next round, ahead of the second leg meeting with Mozambique at the Orlando Stadium, Johannesburg on Tuesday, October 26.
Meanwhile Nigeria made a bright start to their quest to qualify for Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2022 after a 2-0 victory over eternal rivals Ghana in Lagos on Wednesday.
Reigning African champions bounced back from September’s Aisha Buhari Cup loss to South Africa in a style thanks to a double from Uchenna Kanu in the first round, first leg match at Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Onikan.
For Ghana, they were seeking to avoid a second-ever absence from the continental showpiece, after failing to qualify for the 2012 edition of the competition staged in Equatorial Guinea but stumbled.
Elsewhere Ajara Njoya scored at the dying minutes as Cameroon Indomitable Lionesses defeated Central African Republic 1-0 at Japoma Stadium in Douala at the first round first leg of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2022 qualifiers.