Sasol Banyana Banyana have kicked off their LA28 Olympic qualification campaign in emphatic style, sweeping past Madagascar with a commanding 7-0 aggregate victory to advance to the next round!
The team set the tone with a convincing 4-0 first leg win on Friday, 9 October, then sealed the deal with a 3-0 second-leg triumph on Tuesday, 13 October. Both encounters were played at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, where the passionate home crowd rallied behind our national heroines.
Bloemfontein supporters brought the energy, waving Sasol Banyana Banyana-branded flags, singing their hearts out and reminding the team how much South Africa is behind them.
For coach Desiree Ellis, the victories were about more than just the scoreline. They gave the team a chance to build confidence, sharpen their attacking play and give emerging talent valuable international experience. With goals flowing and clean sheets secured, Ellis believes the results provide crucial momentum for the challenges ahead, while acknowledging that there is still work to be done.
Amogelang Motau celebrated the team’s achievement, praising the collective effort and the opportunity for younger players to shine. She also expressed heartfelt appreciation for Sasol’s continued investment in women’s football: “I just want to say thank you to Sasol for making this possible, for giving us a platform to show the young girls that it’s also possible to become a professional player, a South African player.”
For national team debutant Siyamthanda Qashani, stepping onto the pitch in front of Bloemfontein’s passionate supporters was a milestone to remember. She described the experience as unforgettable, crediting her senior teammates’ warm welcome and coach Desiree Ellis’s guidance for helping her settle into the national team.
Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart hailed the Bloemfontein supporters as the stars of the evening, describing the result as a massive confidence booster for the challenges ahead.
Congratulations to Hilda Magaia, who was crowned Sasol Diski Queen of the Match and walked away with a well-deserved R10 000 cash prize courtesy of Sasol for her outstanding performance!
Beyond the pitch, Sasol continues to power the growth of women’s football.
As a proud partner of Banyana Banyana for nearly two decades, Sasol saw the occasion as another powerful demonstration of what sustained investment in women’s sport can achieve.
Nozipho Mlambo, Sasol Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorship, celebrated the team’s outstanding performances and highlighted Sasol’s commitment to empowering women’s football, creating opportunities for female footballers and inspiring the next generation of girls to dream big.
She also acknowledged the enthusiastic response to Sasol’s promotional activations in Bloemfontein, which helped build excitement and rally local supporters ahead of Tuesday’s encounter at Toyota Stadium. From community activations to the sea of flags and passionate voices inside the stadium, the occasion showed the growing appetite for women’s football and the important role meaningful brand partnerships play in connecting the team with its supporters.
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