Banyana Banyana concluded their FIFA Women's World Cup preparations with a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in the early hours of Saturday morning.
It was the final warm-up clash for the African champions, who had fielded a make-shift side for the send-off game against Botswana a couple weeks due to a dispute with the South African Football Association.
After the dispute had been settled with the help of the Motsepe Foundation, the players departed for New Zealand last week for the tournament.
The regulars were back in the starting line-up for Banyana, with coach Desiree Ellis able to call on the likes of Thembi Kgatlana, Refiloe Jane, Hildah Magai and Jermaine Seoposenwe.
Kgatlana's return proved instrumental as the influential attacker opened the scoring for the African champions in the 31st minute.
The second goal arrived in the second half, with Hildah Magai scoring directly from a free-kick to double the lead for the South Africans.
Costa Rica, meanwhile, would not be able to find a way back into the contest in the second half as Ellis' troops held out for the win, which will certainly boost morale ahead of the World Cup.
Banyana open their World Cup campaign against Sweden on 23 July, before they take on Argentina and then finish off the group phase against Italy.
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