Banyana Banyana advance to Olympic qualifying third round

South Africa's women's national football team, Banyana Banyana, has advanced to the third round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games qualifiers. The team secured a 7-0 aggregate victory over Madagascar following a 3-0 win in the second leg at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Ronnel Donnelly scored twice in the second leg, bringing her total to five goals across the two matches after her hat-trick in the first leg. Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado opened the scoring in the second half. Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis noted that while the team was pleased with the result and the clean sheet, there is still work to be done regarding patience in front of goal.

Banyana Banyana will face Angola in the third round, scheduled for February or March 2027. The team is also using these qualifiers to prepare for the upcoming FIFA Women's World Cup play-offs in Rabat, Morocco, where they are drawn against Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, and Uzbekistan.