11 January 2025 – The South African Women’s U17 National Team’s away 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup first leg qualifier against Gabon was called off before the start of second half due to a breach of the FIFA regulations by the hosts.
Gabon fielded only 10 players at the start of the match due to eight players not being eligible to participate in the World Cup qualifier and Match Commissioner Madam Elise Delly Mankou Nee eventually called off the match later in the afternoon.
The competition rules stipulate that players born between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2010 are eligible for the 2025 qualifiers, but some of the players Gabon brought to the game were born in 2011, which is outside the competition rules.
Gabon lost their goalkeeper during the first half of the match due to injury and they were reduced to nine players, with South Africa going into the halftime break leading 12-1.
Khwezi Khoza netted a double brace, Katlego Malebane and Nomfundo Nzuza got a hattrick each and Akhona Simamane scored a brace.
Ahead of the second half, Gabon picked up more injuries and the Match Commissioner was forced to make a call.
Law 3 in the FIFA Laws of the Game stipulates the following for a match to take place or continue. “A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of eleven players; one must be the goalkeeper, A match may not start or continue if either team has fewer than seven players.
Gabon National only had six players remaining to play the match at the time the call was made. SA Head Coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo was not the happiest person at the stadium as these scenes played out, even though her team scored 12 goals.
Speaking to www.safa.net, Khumalo said she was happy that her players converted their chances, which was a great improvement for their last tournament, but was not pleased that the match was called off.
“We came to Gabon and prepared for 90 minutes of play. Although we understand and respect the laws of the game, the decision taken today hinders our plans as a team,” said Khumalo.
“We have areas that we want to work on and really needed this game as we intend on progressing to the next round of World Cup qualifiers. So we are rather disappointed that the match had to be stopped.”
South Africa will travel back home on Sunday night where they will continue preparations for the second leg of qualifiers against Gabon. That match is scheduled for Saturday, 18 January 2025 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria.
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