Banyana Banyana Suffer 5-0 Friendly Loss to Japan in WAFCON Build-Up
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Banyana Banyana Suffer 5-0 Friendly Loss to Japan in WAFCON Build-Up

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Sasol Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis says her side will take some lessons from their 5-0 defeat to Japan in the first of two international friendly matches, played in front of a partisan crowd that sported several South Africans in the stands, at the Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, 6 June 2026.

Also in attendance in Osaka was the Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe. This was the second meeting between the two nations since 2019, with Japan winning 2-0 seven years ago. The visitors came into the encounter on the back of two wins against Algeria in April, but found the going tough against the reigning Asian champions.

South Africa conceded as early as the first minute through Kiko Seike, who doubled the lead 18 minutes later. By half time it was 3-0 after Momoko Tanikawa had scored the third.

Ellis made several changes in the second half when she introduced Thembi Kgatlana, Bongeka Gamede, Wendy Shongwe and Isabella Ludwig for Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Linda Motlhalo, Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado and Noxolo Cesane respectively. Japan increased their lead as Aoba Fujino grabbed a brace, in the 49th and 60th minutes, to run away 5-0 winners.

“You learn a lot more from defeats than what you learn from wins, this is part of our preparation. Japan was excellent today, pounced on every mistake and scored from every mistake and that is what top sides do,” said Dr Ellis. “I think there’s a lot of lessons to be learned as preparation for WAFCON, we created a few half chances and maybe better decisions in the final third could have gotten us in behind goal, but today we played against a top side.”

“We wanted to be really compact in the first 20 minutes and made sure that we closed all the spaces, but unfortunately we conceded early before we could settle down and then we couldn’t recover in time.“

Sasol Banyana Banyana Head Coach, Dr Desiree Ellis

“We had analysed and we knew what was going to happen, but we put ourselves under pressure when we tried to hold on to the ball. There were moments when we got out and played, but it was not often enough because of the pressure that the Japanese players put on our players and at times, they were clinical on the mistakes they pounced on.”

Banyana Banyana and Japan meet again on Tuesday in the second and final friendly at J-Green Sakai, also in Osaka, with kick-off at 08h30 South African time.

The 2022 African champions are using the two matches as part of their preparations for next month’s 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco from 25 July to 16 August.

Banyana Banyana International Friendlies Fixtures List vs Japan in Osaka, Japan

Sat, 6 June: Japan 5-0 South Africa (Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium)
Tue, 9 June: Japan vs South Africa (J-Green Sakai)

Banyana Banyana Starting XI against Japan in Osaka on Saturday, 6 June, 2026:

16 Andile Dlamini (goalkeeper)
13 Bambanani Mbane
7 Karabo Dhlamini
20 Antonia Maponya
5 Fikile Magama
15 Refiloe Jane (captain)
10 Linda Motlhalo
6 Noxolo Cesane
14 Nonhlanhla Mthandi
9 Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado
23 Nthabiseng Majiya

Substitutes

Kaylin Swart (goalkeeper)
Katlego Moletsane (goalkeeper)
Lonathemba Mhlongo
Isabella Ludwig
Sinegugu Zondi
Bongeka Gamede
Wendy Shongwe
Thembi Kgatlana
Bonolo Mokoma
Thorisho Mphelo
Asanda Hadebe
Khutso Pila

Original Copy: SAFA, with editing by gsport

Main Photo Caption: Sasol Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis says her side will take some lessons from their 5-0 defeat to Japan in the first of two international friendly matches, played in front of a partisan crowd that sported several South Africans in the stands, at the Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium in Osaka, Japan on Saturday, 6 June 2026. Photo: SAFA

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