Argentina and South Africa will hope to come back from their opening game defeat at the 2023 Women’s World Cup as they take on Nigeria on Friday.
ARG-W vs SA-W Match Details
Date: Friday, 28 July 2023
Time: 05:30 (IST) / 20:00 (ACT)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
ARG-W vs SA-W Match Preview
In a closely contested battle with Italy, Argentina succumbed to a 1-0 defeat after substitute Cristina Girelli scored an 87th-minute winner for the opposition. La Albiceleste gave a good show of themselves but had nothing to show for it at the end. With this defeat, the South Americans have played most games at a FIFA Women’s World Cup without winning. Also, drawing just twice in those 10 matches and failing to score in seven. However, Argentina have conceded just twice in their last seven which will boost team 's confidence. They will hope to get their first win at the Women’s World Cup stage against a challenging South African team in the next match. Any other result will make it harder for them to reach the knockouts for the first time having failed at their last three attempts. German Portanova’s team are higher ranked than the African nation but will be wary of the worries the Banyana girls caused to the world’s third-best side Sweden in their opener.
Desiree Ellis’s girls went on to take the lead against the 2003 finalists with Hildah Magaia’s bundling Thembi Kgatlana’s saved effort into the net at the start of the second half. It was only their second goal scored in the tournament history. Unfortunately, they failed to hold on to the lead as Sweden responded with Johanna Kaneyrd’s cross touched onto Fridolina Rolfo by defender Lebogang Ramalepe for the equalizer. A minute before stoppage time, Amanda Ilestedt scored the winner from a corner. Like their next counterpart Argentina, South Africa had an inspiring display and could have won their first match in the finals on any other day. They too need a win to stay in contention for their debut knockout stages as well. Losing all four games in the competition so far having not taken a single point in 2019 makes the task even more difficult.
Recent Form (All Comp)
ARG-W: LWWDW
SA-W: LWLLD
Recent Form (World Cup)
ARG-W: L
SA-W: L
ARG-W vs SA-W Predicted Lineups
ARG-W: Vanina Correa; Sophie Braun, Miriam Mayorga, Aldana Cometti, Eliana Stabile; Daiana Falfan, Lorena Benitez; Yamilia Rodriguez, Estefania Banini, Florencia Bonsegundo; Mariana Larroquette
SA-W: Kaylin Swart; Lebogang Ramalepe, Bambanani Mbane, Bongeka Gamede, Sibulele Holweni; Refiloe Jane, Kholosa Biyana; Jermaine Seoposenwe, Linada Motlhalo, Hildah Magaia; Thembi Kgatlana
ARG-W vs SA-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Correa (7.5)
DEF: Braun (8.5), Cometti (8), Mbane (7.5)
MID: Seoposenwe (8.5), Bonsegundo (9), Y Rodriguez (8.5), Motlhalo (8.5)
FW: Magaia (9), Banini (8.5), Kgatlana (8)
Vice-captain: Florencia Bonsegundo
Captain: Estefania Banini
