South Africa will play the first leg of their Olympic qualifying tie against Madagascar on Friday behind closed doors at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium, before facing the same opponents in front of fans at the same venue on Tuesday.
Banyana Banyana received a bye for the first of five rounds of qualifying for LA 2028 and will now enter the tournament in the second round. Madagascar earned their place with a 2-1 aggregate win over South Sudan.
Of the 35 teams who started qualifying, 32 still remain, and only two from Africa will be at the Olympics in two years out of a total of 16 women's teams.
South Africa suffered a disappointing quarter-final exit at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in July and August. Although they kept their FIFA Women's World Cup qualification hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Nigeria in a Play-In game ahead of the Inter-Confederation playoffs, Olympic qualifying success is still desperately needed to unequivocally restore public confidence in Desiree Ellis' side.
Both Banyana's home and away legs against Madagascar are being played on home soil for South Africa due to a lack of available compliant venues in Madagascar. However, SAFA said that Madagascar's request to play the first leg behind closed doors has been honoured, given that they are technically hosts for the first leg.
Key details
Date: Friday, October 9 at 3 p.m. CAT (2 p.m. BST, 1 p.m. GMT)
Venue: Free State Stadium (also known as Toyota Stadium), Bloemfontein
How to watch: The match is scheduled to air on SABC 1 in South Africa. ESPN provides coverage of South African men's and women's national team fixtures on our digital platforms.
Team news
Ellis has generally kept the faith in experience with her latest Banyana squad announcement, but made minor tweaks geared mostly towards bringing in new young players.
Sinegugu Zondi, Cimone Sauls, in-form striker Siyamthanda Qashani and talented midfielder/forward Bonolo Mokoma have been brought into the mix. Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Lebo Ramalepe, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Sibulele Holweni, Nthabiseng Majiya and Asanda Hadebe were omitted.
Expected lineups
Madagascar
GK Anastasie Soanarivo
CB Oliva Rasoamanantena | CB Tantely Raheritiana | CB Emilienne Solange
LM Fitiavana Ramanantsoa | CM Randriamalala Mariah Eugénie | CM Razanarisoa Julie Solonilaina | CM Hanitriniana Nivonirina | RM M. Veronique Raharimalala
ST Sylvia Mamonjy | ST Andoniaina Rasamison
South Africa
GK Kaylin Swart
LB Antonia Maponya | CB Karabo Dhlamini | CB Bambanani Mbane | RB Fikile Magama
CM Refiloe Jane | CM Bongeka Gamede | CM Linda Motlhalo
LW Hildah Magaia | ST Thembi Kgatlana | RW Isabella Ludwig
Stats
Thembi Kgatlana scored 4 goals in 5 games for Banyana Banyana at WAFCON 2026, including the 2-1 play-in win over Nigeria.
Kgatlana has scored 8 goals and assisted 2 in her last 7 games at club level for Tigres UANL.