Banyana Banyana Make History With Win Over Japan Ahead of WAFCON 2026

Banyana Banyana bounced back from a heavy defeat to secure a historic 1-0 victory over Japan in Osaka on Tuesday, marking the first time a senior African women’s national team has beaten Japan in an official recognised match.

Midfielder Linda Motlhalo scored the decisive goal as South Africa produced a disciplined defensive performance against one of the world’s strongest teams in their second international friendly ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The result was a dramatic turnaround from the first meeting between the two nations just three days earlier, when Japan cruised to a 5-0 victory in Osaka.

Historic Victory in Osaka

The match at J-Green Sakai on 9 June 2026 will go down as one of the most significant results in South African women’s football history.

Facing a Japanese side ranked among the world’s elite, Banyana Banyana absorbed sustained pressure before making their chance count. Motlhalo’s goal proved enough to secure a memorable victory and provide a major confidence boost ahead of WAFCON 2026 in Morocco.

The win also highlighted the resilience of coach Desiree Ellis’s side after their difficult opening encounter against the hosts.

From 5-0 Defeat to Famous Win

The first friendly on 6 June offered a harsh lesson for the South Africans.

Japan dominated proceedings and ran out 5-0 winners thanks to braces from Kiko Seike and Aoba Fujino, while Momoko Tanikawa added another goal. Ellis admitted afterwards that defensive errors and Japan’s relentless pressing caused major problems for her team.

Three days later, Banyana Banyana responded in emphatic fashion.

Rather than being overwhelmed by Japan’s technical quality, South Africa remained organised, compact and disciplined throughout the match.

The Statistics Tell the Story

The match statistics underline just how efficient Banyana Banyana were.

Clinical Finishing

South Africa scored from their only shot attempt and only shot on target, giving them a perfect conversion rate.

Defensive Excellence

Despite enjoying nearly three-quarters of possession, Japan managed only four shot attempts and two efforts on target.

Banyana’s goalkeeper produced two crucial saves to preserve the clean sheet.

Disciplined Performance

Neither side received a yellow card, reflecting a controlled and professional contest.

Positive Signs Ahead of WAFCON 2026

The two friendlies formed part of South Africa’s preparations for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place in Morocco from 25 July to 16 August 2026.

While the opening defeat exposed areas requiring improvement, the response in the second match demonstrated the character and adaptability of the reigning African champions.

For Ellis and her squad, the victory provides valuable momentum heading into their title defence.

Recent Meetings Between South Africa and Japan

After years of falling short against Japan, Banyana Banyana have now secured a landmark result that will be remembered as one of the biggest wins in the history of South African women’s football.

Read Inbound SA online