Like the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, South Africa got off to the perfect start against tournament favourites. For Burundi’s maiden WAFCON campaign, plans have not kicked off as they would have envisioned. The challenge only gets tougher from here on out for the Swallows, while Banyana Banyana find the balance between humble and supremely confident.
WAFCON 2022 | Thursday 7 July | Moulay Hassan FUS | 19:00
To Win:
South Africa 1/11
Nigeria 7/1
Burundi 23/1
Banyana Banyana
Coach Desiree Ellis iterated a point on more than one occasion before entering into a tussle with defending champions Nigeria.
She noted two major upsets in the run-in to WAFCON 2022 stating, “We can’t underestimate anyone. They are there because they deserve to be there, and we saw Burundi beating Tanzania and Botswana.”
South Africa are among the favourites despite never lifting the WAFCON trophy before. They are, however, revered for the consistency in winning on the African continent. This was displayed in the opening encounter against their toughest rival, Nigeria.
A nervy start with many errors leading to overturned possession in the opening 45 minutes was quite clear. The ball was not able to make its way into the right channels for pacey Thembi Kgatlana.
A half-time talk seemed to calm the first match jitters, and the return of Jermaine Seoposenwe found the back of the net on the stroke of the hour mark, followed by another from Tholakele Magaia just two minutes later.
Banyana controlled most of the second half through build-up play and neat recycling of the ball, but as the final minutes arrived a lapse in concentration saw them relinquish a clean sheet.
Burundi Women
Head coach Gustave Niyonkuru’s name is written down in Burundi’s football history.
He is the first to coach a women’s national team for the country doing so methodically. Niyonkuru has overseen the transition of women’s players, from the U20s to the senior level since 2019. He has guided the national team to their debut WAFCON, but as you reach the top, as it always does, competition stiffens.
The Swallows are a young team that has been blending together well over recent years, with nobody over the age of 25 selected to represent their nation bar 30-year-old goalkeeper Belinda Ndoreraho.
One key player missing from the squad is 16-year-old Rukiya Bizimana. She scored four goals in their 11–1 aggregate victory over Djibouti which qualified them to the 2022 African Women Cup of Nations.
However, Burundi has a number nine to rely on, 22-year-old Sandrine Niyonkuru, who scored two goals in their opening 4-2 defeat to Botswana. Their play is attack minded and getting on the score sheet is the primary focus at any moment of the fixture.
Prediction: Totals Over 3.5 (12/10)
Finding value in this fixture is tough, but I have sought it out, and it will deliver. In Burundi’s eight competitive fixtures this year alone, they have scored 28 goals. In each of these fixtures, they have not found the back of the net, including the three defeats to Uganda (twice) and Botswana.
While Burundi’s attack may be their strong point, for South Africa to keep Nigeria at bay until additional time of the second half, I have confidence in the South African defence.
Banyana Banyana have a well-rounded squad and they will exploit their oppositions inexperienced and flat-footed backline. Weirdly, the Banyana Match-bet and Totals Over 3.5 is 21/20, but backing just the totals over 3.5 is the home of value here at 12/10.
