CONTINENTAL QUEENS

AS BANYANA BANYANA WAIT TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE AT THE WOMEN'S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS, WE LOOK BACK AT THEIR PAST PERFORMANCES IN THE COMPETITION

- Nick Said

1995
Runners-up

Banyana missed the first continental championship in 1991, with South Africa not yet readmitted to international football, but did take part in the next event four years later. Back then, the competition was played in home and away ties spread over months. After seeing off Zambia (11-5 on aggregate) and Angola (6-4), Banyana came up against mighty Nigeria in the final, and were humbled 4-1 and 7-1 in those two matches.

1998
Group Stages

The first competition that was played as a single tournament saw Banyana disappoint as they lost both their pool matches, to Ghana (4-0) and Cameroon (3-2), and headed home early.

2000
Runners-up

A tournament that South Africa hosted but would end in shameful scenes as the final had to be abandoned owing to crowd trouble with Nigeria leading 2-0 against Banyana. It was a stain on the local game. The home side had breezed through their group with three wins and then edged Ghana 1-0 in the semi-finals.

2002
Fourth place

Banyana again topped their pool, with seven points, but this time came up against hosts Nigeria in the semis and were thumped 5-0. That meant a match-up against Cameroon for bronze, which they lost 3-0.