Palesa Manaleng6 April 2025 | 10:15

Noko Matlou's final bow as Banyana Banyana beat Malawi 3-0

In 2008, the striker-turned-defender became the first South African, male or female, to be crowned CAF African Footballer of the Year after winning the COSAFA Cup in Angola, where she was joint top goal scorer and player of the tournament.

Noko Matlou's final bow as Banyana Banyana beat Malawi 3-0

Banyana Banyana legend Noko Matlou took her final bow from the international stage as her teammates bid her farewell with a 3- 0 win against Malawi at UJ Soweto Campus in Johannesburg, on Saturday afternoon, 5 April 2025. Picture: @SasolinSport/X.

JOHANNESBURG –  Banyana Banyana gave legend Noko ‘Beep-Beep’ Matlou a spectacular farewell as they beat Malawi 3-0 in an international friendly match played at UJ Soweto Campus on Saturday afternoon.

The national team dominated early in the match, with Nonhlanhla Mthandi opening the scoring in the 13th minute. Then, midfielder Linda Motlhalo converted a penalty in the 21st minute to double the lead before half-time. Only for Mthandi to return and find the net again in the 51st minute, earning her the Diski Queen of the Match award.

But the day truly belonged to Matlou as she received a standing ovation from her teammates, the opposition and the crowd.

“I’m very happy at this moment, and going forward, I wish the team luck and well for WAFCON and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers,” said Matlou on safa.net.

In 2008, the striker-turned-defender became the first South African, male or female, to be crowned CAF African Footballer of the Year after winning the COSAFA Cup in Angola, where she was joint top goal scorer and player of the tournament.

That same year, Banyana Banyana went on to play in the African Women’s Championship where she was again a joint top goal scorer and joint player of the tournament.

READ: Banyana Banyana to face Malawi this weekend for WAFCON build up

In 2022, she was part of the team that won the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and helped Banyana to a historic 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Last 16 appearance.

The Sasol-sponsored home side will face Malawi again on Tuesday, where Matlou's long-time teammate Nompumelelo Nyandeni will also receive her farewell cap with her 150th. Only Janine van Wyk (185) and Noko Matlou (173) have more caps than her.