South Africa’s U-17 Coach Khumalo Applauds Her Players Despite Flamingos’ Dominance
Despite failing to advance to the final qualifying round of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, South Africa’s head coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, has chosen to focus on the positives from her team’s performance. The Bantwana suffered a 2-0 defeat to Nigeria’s Flamingos at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, on Saturday, sealing a 5-1 aggregate loss after their earlier 3-1 defeat at the Lucas Moripe Stadium last weekend.
However, Khumalo’s words carried a message of hope and resilience.
“I am disappointed because we did not make it to the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers, but I am also proud of my girls after their performance,” Khumalo said in her interview with safa.net. “This is the international stage, and some of them tried their best, but Nigeria were the better team.”
Opinion: Building A Resilient Bantwana For The Future
Khumalo’s reaction to the loss shows the heart of a true leader — one who sees growth and learning even in defeat. It’s refreshing to witness a coach who acknowledges the harsh reality of competition but remains optimistic about the lessons learned.
The Flamingos have been a strong force on the African stage, and their dominance over South Africa was evident. Yet, Khumalo understands that building a formidable team requires persistence, experience, and adaptation.
“For me, what I can take back home is the experience gained on this international stage, especially after facing the same opponent in the first and second rounds that was stronger. We all know that they are doing well in Africa in such competitions.”
One thing is certain — the Bantwana may have lost this battle, but the lessons learned from facing such high-quality opposition will only strengthen them for future contests. Their resilience and drive to improve could pave the way for better performances in upcoming tournaments.
What Lies Ahead For The Bantwana?
This experience could serve as a wake-up call for South Africa’s U-17 squad to sharpen their skills and build a more cohesive and determined team. Khumalo’s positive outlook could be the foundation for a brighter future. But the big question remains: How will they bounce back from this setback?
