The Reggae Girlz secured victory through a strike from Siobhan Wilson and a brace by their star forward, Khadija Shaw.

Despite the loss, South African Women’s coach, Desiree Ellis, highlighted her team’s strong performance in the opening half. However, she acknowledged that travel fatigue and jet lag ultimately took their toll on the players.

“We gave a good account of ourselves in the first half,” said Ellis.

“However, we need to make better decisions in the final third. Once again, this match allowed us to test several players, but as the game wore on, fatigue and the effects of long travel became apparent.” Ellis remained optimistic about her team's overall performance.

“Under the circumstances, I believe the girls did very well. We have another two days before the second match, and we’ll use this time to analyse the game, provide the players with adequate rest, and address areas for improvement.”

The two teams are set to face off again on Monday (2/12) again in what promises to be another competitive encounter. Both nations are using the friendlies as preparation for their respective continental tournaments scheduled for 2025.

Banyana Banyana, the reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions, are focused on maintaining their momentum heading into a critical year for African women’s football. Meanwhile, Jamaica, fresh off a strong showing at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, aims to solidify their position as one of the rising forces in CONCACAF.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg