After a breathtaking win for Banyana Banyana against Italy in Wellington, New Zealand, on Wednesday, South Africa earned a place as the runners-up of Group G on four points.
But Sweden is still miles ahead by 9 points in the group G round-robin.
Banyana offered more than the country expected by beating one of Europe’s powerhouses, Italy, in women’s football.
History-making match
This was the first-ever win by Banyana in the Fifa World Cup, and this achievement means increased pressure on the women’s national team to take their win further in the upcoming knockout stages.
Banyana is facing a formidable team in the Netherlands in the round of 16.
South Africa must defeat their former colonial master country to progress to the next round. Should they win against the Netherlands, the team will then face off against Switzerland or Spain in the round of eight.
It’s easier said than done, and Banyana needs to win another four games if they want to bring the cup home.
There have been some shocking results in this year’s world cup, which included seeing Brazil being knocked out by Jamaica. The reggae girls held Seleção (The National Squad) to a 0-0 draw that eliminated the BRICS block country from the tournament altogether.
Other notable teams knocked out on Wednesday were host nation New Zealand, Canada and China.
Banyana still has to defeat some of the biggest powerhouses in the Women’s World Cup.
The United States has been the most dominant team so far, winning four titles in the first eight editions of the tournament (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019). The US women reached the semifinals in all eight women’s World Cups and have never finished below third place.
Germany won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2007 and is the only other nation to have won multiple Women’s World Cups.
