South Africa’s U-20 women’s football coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, has voiced her disappointment following her team’s 2-0 defeat to Nigeria’s Flamingos in the second leg of the second-round qualifiers for the 2025 U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The loss in Ikenne sealed Nigeria’s place in the final round of qualification with a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Despite the setback, Khumalo commended her players for their efforts across both matches.
“I’m disappointed not to have progressed to the next stage of qualifying, but I’m proud of my players after their performance,” she told safa.net.
Khumalo emphasized the importance of the experience gained from competing on the international stage, particularly against a formidable Nigerian side known for its strong performances in African women’s football.
“What I take away from this experience is learning at the international level, especially against such a strong opponent, known for their performances in Africa in such competitions.”
While South Africa’s journey in the qualification campaign has ended, the coach remains optimistic about the lessons learned and the future development of her squad as they continue to build for upcoming competitions.
