Banyana Banyana beat Botswana to clinch fourth consecutive Cosafa Women’s Championship

• Banyana got the better of Botswana to clinch a record fourth consecutive title 
• Sibulele Holweni and Gabriela Salgado were both on target as the side successfully defended their title 
• Mental Health and Psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19

Banyana Banyana successfully defended their COSAFA Cup title after defeating Botswana 2-1 at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium on Saturday. 

Goals from Sibulele Holweni and Gabriela Salgado saw Banyana claim their seventh Cosafa Women’s’ Championship title and the fourth in-a-row which is a record. Botswana Mokgabo Thanda scored a consolation goal for her side in the 86th minute but could not rally and pull another one.

The South African outfit was gunning for their fourth successive title and showed determination as they finished top of group A undefeated and without conceding a single goal.

The team further went on to knockout Malawi in the semi-finals to book their place in the final where they locked horns with Botswana for the ultimate prize.

The 2020 COSAFA tournament commenced on 3 November 2020 making it the first football tournament to be staged in the African continent since the coronavirus outbreak.

In her squad selection, Banyana coach Desiree Ellis opted to combine young talent with a bit of experience and introduced a different team to the tournament from what South Africans were expecting.

Speaking after her team’s triumph, a jubilant Ellis expressed her joy as she looked back to the first day she selected her squad dominated by youngsters and how they have worked hard to make it to the final and walk away victorious.

Sibulele Holweni finished as the top goalscorer while Hildah Magaia was awarded the Player of the Tournament accolade.