Banyana Banyana assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli has reacted to her side’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier, saying it’s important that they got an away goal.
Mbuli was in charge of the side for the first leg of the qualifiers in Kinshasa after head coach Dr Desiree Ellis did not travel with the team, as she irons out contractual matters with the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Banyana led the game, courtesy of DR Congo based Kgalebane Mohlakoana which was cancelled by the hosts in first half injury-time.
The former African champions will need a win or a goalless draw in the second leg in Johannesburg next Tuesday to qualify for the WAFCON in Morocco next year, where the semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Mbuli bemoaned the second half performance from her side, however appreciated that Banyana did not leave Congo empty-handed.
“I think we had two goals coming here – it was to get a result and making sure that we don’t lose a match,” said Mbuli after the game.
“The aim yes, was to get an away goal, if possible two and I think we tried first half. Little bit disappointed with our second half performance because I think we allowed them more in our box, more in our half.
“So second half, we’re playing with a little bit of pressure, little bit casually, because I felt like maybe players thought that it was easy coming out from the back with no pressure from their strikers.
“And we took time to realise that second half they changed their pressing setup. Instead of pressing with one, it was like pressing with two or three, and at times we couldn’t come out from that press.
“But what’s more important is that we got result which is a draw, and we got the most important away goal.
“So we’ll have an opportunity to go back home tonight, do recovery tomorrow, and then we have three more days to prepare and then try to finish this at home.”