South Africa’s Khumalo concedes superiority after bowing to Nigeria’s Flamingos

By Dayo Awoniyi

South Africa’s Bantwana coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo, has acknowledged Nigeria’s Flamingos as the superior team following their commanding 5-1 aggregate victory in the Morocco 2025 U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Despite the crushing defeat, Khumalo praised her players’ efforts, expressing both disappointment and pride.

“I am disappointed that we didn’t progress to the next stage, but I am proud of my girls for their performance,” she said.

Khumalo recognized Nigeria’s dominance in the two-legged tie.

“This is an international stage, and while some of them gave their best, Nigeria proved to be the stronger team.”

Reflecting on the experience, Khumalo emphasized that facing such a formidable opponent would prove invaluable for her team.

“Facing the same tough opponent in both legs was a challenge, but we know Nigeria excels in African competitions,” she added.

The defeat marks a setback for South Africa’s aspirations, but Khumalo remains optimistic about the lessons learned in the challenging encounter with Nigeria.