Ramalepe demands mental toughness as Banyana face Super Falcons
South Africa defender Lebohang Ramalepe has called on her teammates to show greater mental strength when they face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a crucial FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification encounter, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.
Banyana Banyana missed out on automatic qualification after suffering a 2-1 defeat to hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria also failed to secure a direct route to the World Cup after losing 1-0 to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in their own quarter-final clash.
The two continental rivals must now battle for a place in the inter-confederation playoffs, with Thursday’s encounter carrying huge significance for both teams.
Ramalepe believes South Africa’s chances will depend heavily on their ability to remain mentally strong and maintain belief despite the disappointment of their WAFCON exit.
“What is required is mental toughness. As a team, we just need to ask ourselves: ‘what is it that we want?’” Ramalepe told ESPN.
The defender urged her teammates not to approach the match with a defeatist mentality, insisting that their World Cup dream remains alive.
“If we go into the next match with the mentality of ‘all is lost’… no, we still have a chance; all is not lost.
“We just need to stay focused, be mentally sharp and take it as a final match.”
South Africa will now turn their attention to the Super Falcons, with both teams desperate to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The decisive encounter is scheduled for Thursday at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off set for 9pm Nigerian time.
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