Ronnel Donnelly hat-trick powers Banyana Banyana to four-goal blitz against Madagascar

Banyana Banyana have put one foot in the third round of the 2028 Olympic qualifiers after hammering Madagascar 4-0 in the first leg of their tie at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday afternoon.

With the second leg set to be held at the same venue on Tuesday night, Banyana will once again enjoy home advantage and expect strong fan support after Madagascar, the designated “hosts” for Friday’s clash, opted to play behind closed doors.

While they head into the return leg with a comfortable cushion, Banyana must maintain their intensity to build crucial momentum ahead of the third qualification round between February and March next year.

Overall, a free-scoring and solid defensive performance bodes well for their broader ambitions, including the upcoming 2027 World Cup play-off qualifiers later this year following a disappointing Wafcon campaign.

Having called up her strongest squad for the qualifiers, coach Desiree Ellis saw her side repay that faith in style. Striker Ronnel Donnelly, starting ahead of Thembi Kgatlana, stole the show with a sensational hat-trick.

The towering forward opened the scoring in the 27th minute, rising highest inside the box to steer home Karabo Dhlamini’s corner kick off her chest and into the net.

The pair combined again shortly after. Dhlamini whipped in another precise corner to find an unmarked Donnelly, who controlled the ball, turned sharply, and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner.

Banyana played with absolute control throughout the half. Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini was rarely tested, even joining in the celebrations as her teammates dominated possession and built a commanding lead.

Donnelly sealed her first international hat-trick before the break after Fikile Magama latched onto a through ball down the right flank and squared it across goal for the Mamelodi Sundowns striker to finish emphatically.

Dhlamini capped off a stellar performance by claiming her third assist of the afternoon, threading a pass through to Hildah Magaia. Magaia rounded the goalkeeper with a sharp drop of the shoulder before firing towards an empty net, with Madagascar’s Emmilene Solange bundling the ball over the line in a desperate clearance attempt.

Kgatlana replaced Donnelly late in the second half, and while the star forward did not add to the scoreline during her cameo, the job was already done.

Ellis rested several core players for this clash and will look to give fresh faces an opportunity in Tuesday’s second leg as Banyana aim to complete the job in style.