Banyana Banyana reach third round of 2028 Olympic qualifying with 7-0 win over Madagascar

Banyana Banyana progressed to the third round of the CAF 2028 LA Olympic Games qualifiers after completing a 7-0 aggregate victory over Madagascar.

South Africa followed up their 4-0 first-leg win at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium with a 3-0 success at the same venue on Tuesday. Gabriela Salgado-Moodaly opened the scoring before Ronnel Donnelly came off the bench to score twice.

Desiree Ellis made a number of changes to her starting line-up for the second meeting. Thembi Kgatlana replaced Donnelly in attack, while Kaylin Swart started in goal ahead of Andile Dlamini.

South Africa controlled the match, particularly during the opening half, but their dominance was not reflected on the scoresheet until after the interval. Their finishing was inconsistent and Madagascar’s defence resisted a series of attacks.

Antonia Maponya had an early opportunity to break the deadlock, but her header in the second minute was comfortably saved by the Malagasy goalkeeper.

The link-up play between Kgatlana and Hilda Magaia, as well as the partnership of Amogelang Motau and Salgado-Moodaly, caused problems for Madagascar. However, Banyana Banyana were unable to turn their chances into goals before half-time.

In the seventh minute, Kgatlana and Magaia were both unable to connect with a Salgado-Moodaly cross in the penalty area. Kgatlana then saw an effort saved from inside the box in the 25th minute.

The forward appeared to have scored seven minutes later, but the goal was disallowed after a foul had been committed just outside the area. Motau took the resulting free-kick and struck the crossbar.

Kgatlana shot wide late in the half, while Salgado-Moodaly was denied by the goalkeeper as Madagascar held on for a goalless interval.

The breakthrough arrived in the first minute of the second half. Salgado-Moodaly finished from a Magaia assist to give South Africa the lead.

Madagascar survived another threat in the 58th minute when Maponya headed a Noxolo Cesane corner wide. Motau then came close three minutes after the hour mark, shooting narrowly off target after receiving a clever pass from Bongeka Gamede.

South Africa’s pressure eventually produced a second goal when Kgatlana supplied substitute Donnelly, who headed home to extend the advantage.

Donnelly completed her brace 10 minutes later, with the Mamelodi Sundowns forward finishing after the provider of the second goal delivered the assist. The two goals took her total to six in national colours, with five coming across two successive games.