Hildah Magaia is likely to be match for South Africa’s second match on the Women’s World Cup after fears her event had ended within the act of scoring within the loss to Sweden on Sunday.
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A distraught Magaia lay inclined within the purpose after falling closely whereas bundling within the sport’s opening purpose of a 2-1 defeat in a moist Wellington.
Surrounded by team-mates and handled for a number of minutes, the ahead finally made a gradual, tearful exit and will solely watch on as Sweden fought again to safe victory within the ninetieth minute.
South Africa coach Desiree Ellis stated accidents to Magaia’s hand and knee weren’t as critical as first feared.
“Unfortunately she couldn’t continue, it was her debut goal at the World Cup, but she should be ok for the next game,” Ellis stated.
South Africa have a five-day turnaround earlier than going through Group G rivals Argentina in Dunedin.
They will hope to regain the providers of striker Magaia, who netted each her nation’s targets within the 2-1 win over Morocco within the remaining of final 12 months’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Ellis stated her workforce’s efficiency justified her pre-tournament prediction that they’d be no pushover of their second World Cup look.
She stated her 54th-ranked facet have improved markedly since going winless in France 4 years in the past.
“I think we’re more mature now,” she stated.
“You know, 2019 to 2023 are totally different groups. Players are enjoying at good golf equipment overseas and our league is getting higher.
“It’s not the place we wish to be as a result of we nonetheless have an newbie league again dwelling however the gamers have gotten higher.
“When we first came to the World Cup all of us were newbies.”
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Ellis stated supporters in South Africa could be “rejoicing in the street” on the combat proven by her facet.
“They’ve shown resilience, they’ve shown bravery and we said people would find out what South Africa is about this time around,” she stated.
“We went toe to toe with the quantity three workforce on the planet. It took a superhuman effort from them to get the end result.
“Even though we lost, I think it’s still a positive result.”
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