The South African national team, Banyana Banyana, were in action in the opening game when they locked horns with the much more fancied Sweden.

South Africa are ranked 52nd in the world while their counterparts are ranked 6th.

Banyana hold their head high despite losing 1-0 to the Scandinavians. Two mistakes by the South African goalkeeper, Roxanne Barker, in the 74th minute left the goals open for Sweden’s most experienced player, Nilla Ficsher, to tap home the winner.

South Africa’s skipper, Janine van Wyk, says if the side stands together they can spring a surprise at the tournament.

“I think they are experienced enough to know what to expect at this level. We’ve played some international friendlies and we’ve played against the best in the world, so they know what this level demands.

“In terms of the level we are playing, everyone knows what to expect on the field of play.

“We’ve just got to make the most of it and fight together. If we stand together as a team like we have been doing for a long time and work together, we could possibly get something good.”

In Wednesday night’s other Group E match, the hosts Brazil made light work of defeating China 3-0.

In Group F the USA beat New Zealand 2-0. Canada claimed a 2-0 win over Australia.

Germany thrashed Zimbabwe 6-1 and France gave Columbia a 4-0 hiding.

Morgan Piek/OFM News