- The draw for the CAF Women’s African Nations Cup will take place on May 10th
- The competition is also the qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup
- Three years ago, Nigeria beat South Africa with Thembi Kgatlana in the final
At the end of the last CAF Women’s African Nations Cup three years ago, there was a mixture of satisfaction and disappointment in the South African camp. After reaching the final, the team qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time ever – but for the fifth time in history they broke the last hurdle, this time against Nigeria (0-0, 3: 4 a.s.l.) .).
“He who laughs last, laughs best,” thinks Thembi Kgatlana nonetheless. At the microphone of FIFA.com admits the best player and top scorer of the African Cup of Nations 2018 (5 goals): “Nigeria set the tone for a long time.” (The West Africans won 11 of the 13 titles, ed.). But she also says: “But I have the feeling that things are starting to change. Because of course Nigeria beat us on penalties in the final, but it’s just as true that we beat them 1-0 at the start. And it’s not just us. The competition is getting stronger in Africa! “
Did you know?
Because they come from the same continent, because both are talented and both play in Spain (one at Eibar, the other at FC Barcelona), Thembi Kgatlana and Nigerian Asisat Oshoala are often compared. “She’s a good player with a lot of experience, but I don’t consider her a rival,” said Kgatlana. “We’re different players. It’s like comparing Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both are fantastic players with their own qualities. Why should you have to choose between the two?”
Compared to the CAF African Nations Cup 2018, no less than 20 more teams will start in the qualification. There are also four direct starting places at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. There are also two tickets for the intercontinental playoffs. This is an opportunity for newbies to imitate the Banyana Banyana, which had also not participated in a World Cup before France 2019.
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Premier goal at the first World Cup
“In terms of atmosphere, level and passion, nothing can be compared to the World Cup. That is the peak for every player,” says Kgatlana. “It is a dream for everyone to be able to represent their own country at the highest level. It is extraordinary to be able to compete with the best players in the world and to belong to them. As far as I am concerned, I cannot get enough of it ! “
In terms of morale, the three defeats in the preliminary round in 2019 in France (1: 3 against Spain, 0: 1 against China PR and 0: 4 against Germany) obviously left no mark on Kgatlana. However, she can also comfort herself with the fact that she made history with her goal against Spain: as the first South African to score a goal at a World Cup.
“We waited so many years to get our ticket for the World Cup. So many years of preparation, hope, disappointment. And then we finally make it and I’ll score a goal on our debut, that was the icing on the cake i, “says Kgatlana. “I will remember this goal for the rest of my life. I can still describe in detail how it came about. It was also really important that we scored, because that alleviated the pain a little that we did not have have made it out of the group stage. In short, this goal is something very special for me! “
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To defend a title, to win one
And Thembi Kgatlana has already scored a lot of goals, always and everywhere. This does not only apply to her 59 international matches (19 goals), most of which she played in Africa. Kgatlana was also active in North America (in the USA with Houston Dash), in Asia (in the PR China with Beijing BG Phoenix) and in Europe (in Portugal with Benfica Lisbon and in Spain with Eibar). The many stations are actually not surprising when you know that the 25-year-old has a degree in tourism.
“I like to play in Spain, but it’s true: I don’t care where I go as long as I can only play football there,” said Kgatlana, who has scored ten goals in 21 games for Eibar. “Everywhere I go, I want to be the best, in training as well as in the game. It works more easily when I come to a team that understands my style of play. And I’m up to date in one of those. After the last one, because of COVID- 19 shortened season at Benfica, I’m happy to be back on the pitch. “
Which works out well, because from now on things will happen in quick succession for Kgatlana. The season in the Spanish league is about to hit the home straight and there are also challenges with South Africa. In the women’s COSAFA championship it is important to defend a title as much as possible – and to win one at the African championship!
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