South Africa head coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo says her players can be proud of their performance despite the team’s failure to secure a place in the final qualifying round of the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
The Bantwana lost 2-0 to Nigeria’s Flamingos in the second leg of their second qualifying round tie at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, on Saturday.
Khumalo’s girls lost the first leg 3-1 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium last weekend.
Nigeria thus progressed to the final qualifying round 5-1 on aggregate.
The gaffer said her players will learn from the experience.
“I am disappointed because we did not make it to the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers, but I am also proud of my girls after their performance,” she told safa.net.
“This is the international stage, and some of them tried their best, but Nigeria were the better team.
“For me, what I can take back home is the experience gained on this international stage, especially after facing the same opponent in the first and second rounds that was stronger. We all know that they are doing well in Africa in such competitions.”
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