4 September 2019 – Banyana Banyana midfielder Leandra Smeda says they did not expect to be knocked out of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifiers at the first hurdle.
South Africa lost 2-3 on penalties to Botswana after both sides played to a goalless draw in the two-legged second round.
Smeda, who scored one of the penalties in the shootout, says their failure to convert the chances that came their way led to them being bundled out of the qualifiers.
The Sweden-based player adds that it is a big blow that Banyana Banyana will not be at the Olympic Games in Tokyo – this would have been their third in a row after qualifying for London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Here’s what Smeda had to say: