A first-half goal by Crocius striker in the Gauteng Sasol League, Portia Modise, and an early goal in the second half by Mamelodi Sundowns player Sanah Mollo gave Banyana victory over a physical Cote d'Ivoire.
Both teams are in the final stages of preparations for the biggest women’s football tournament in Africa, the African Women’s Championship which will take place in Namibia from 11–25 October.
Banyana are drawn in Group B together with Cameroon, Ghana and Algeria, while Cote d'Ivoire has been drawn in Group A with hosts Namibia, Nigeria and Zambia.
The South African ladies came out the strongest in the first stanza with leading national team goal scorer Portia Modise coming close to opening the scoring in the 12th minute.
Minutes later, the Cote d'Ivoire keeper denied Sanah Mollo another great chance to put Banyana in the lead when she made a great save from her well taken shot from inside the box.
Just after the half hour mark Mollo missed yet another chance to put Banyana in the lead. She came one-on-one with the Cote d'Ivoire keeper, but her final pass was saved by the alert Thiamale Ange Marie Dominique.
Modise capitalised on the visitor’s poor defence in the 44th minute, scoring her 98th goal in national team colours.
Vera Pauw’s charges came out guns blazing in the second half, extending their lead minutes into the half through Mollo’s goal.
The visitors pulled one back in the 69th minute, but this did not dampen down the well composed South African ladies as they continued to pile pressure on the Ivorians, with their keeper the busiest of the two, ending the match in favour of Banyana.
Banyana are set to play one more friendly before they travel to Namibia, details of the match will be communicated soon.