Banyana Banyana’s qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics remain in the balance after they were held to a goalless draw by Botswana in the first leg of their second-round clash in Gaborone on Friday night. 

Desiree Ellis included the overseas-based trio of Jermaine Seoposenwe, Nothando Vilakazi and Rhoda Mulaudzi in the line-up after they all missed the recently completed COSAFA Women’s Championship, while live-wire Thembi Kgatlana and captain Janine van Wyk were both missing due to injuries. 

Banyana were under pressure in the opening exchanges and nearly went a goal down with the hosts piling the pressure but goalkeeper Andile Dlamini kept them in the game with crucial saves. 

The visitors started to get into game after the water-break, mid-way through the first stanza and were threatening on counter-attacks particularly when Nothando Vilakazi and Robyn Moodaly got on the ball but they could not create clear chances yet. 

However, their momentum was broken six minutes before the break as Moodaly got injured and Busisiwe Ndimeni came on in her place and Ellis’ charges managed to escape a late surge from Botswana to head to the break goalless. Banyana were more adventurous coming from the break and Mamello Makhabane had a chance to break the deadlock for them on the hour-mark with a free-kick from outside the box but she could not find the target. 

The visitors were absorbing the pressure though after that and Ellis made a tactical change in the 73rd minute, bringing on midfielder Noxolo Cesane in place of striker Mulaudzi. Ellis’ women were fancying their chances on counter-attacks and Makhabane had another opportunity from a set-piece with 15 minutes remaining but her effort was smothered by shot-stopper Sedilame Bosija. It

was still anybody’s game in the closing phases but neither side could create clear chances and they shared the spoils in the end. The return leg is set to place next Tuesday at Orlando Stadium.