SAFA President Danny Jordaan Applauds Bantwana Despite Defeat to Nigeria, Eyes 2031 World Cup

President of the South African Football Association (SAFA), Danny Jordaan, has commended the valiant efforts of the South African U-17 Women’s team, Bantwana, despite their 2-0 defeat to Nigeria’s Flamingos in Ikenne on Sunday. The loss confirmed Nigeria’s progression to the next stage of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, with a convincing 5-1 aggregate victory over South Africa.

The Flamingos’ dominance was highlighted by goals from Harmony Chidi and Aminat Animashaun, which sealed the win in the second-leg encounter.

Addressing the players’ performance, Danny Jordaan expressed his admiration for their resilience and progress, emphasizing that the gap between South Africa and Nigeria is narrowing.

“We feel for the players and all the members of the team after this disappointing result. But the gap between South Africa and Nigeria is closing,” Jordaan told safa.net.

Eyes on the Future: Building for 2031

While acknowledging Nigeria’s deserved qualification, Jordaan made it clear that the real focus for South Africa is on building a formidable team for the future.

“Congratulations to Nigeria for progressing to the next stage. But remember, 2031 is just six years from today. We are building a team for 2031, and many of our players will be 20/21 years old then. Today’s experience will be a huge benefit in the bigger scheme of things,” he stated confidently.

Opinion: A Long-Term Vision Worth Applauding

The ambitious focus on developing a strong team for the 2031 FIFA Women’s World Cup is a commendable step by SAFA. Unlike the short-sighted approach often seen in African football, Jordaan’s blueprint is a breath of fresh air aimed at sustainable growth.

By investing in their young talents now, South Africa aims to create a generation of players ready to compete at the highest level, not just regionally but globally. The experience gained from tough matches like the one against Nigeria will undoubtedly be instrumental in their future success.

The real question is, will South Africa’s long-term vision pay off? If they continue nurturing their young talents with this kind of dedication, they might just be the team to beat in 2031.