Banyana Banyana thrash Malawi as Noko Matlou bids farewell to international football

The 39-year-old Matlou brought the curtain down on a 17-year international career that saw her capped 174 times for the national side.

The striker-turned-defender also has the honour of the first-ever South African to win the Womenâ™s African Footballer of the Year back in 2008.

Banyana started the contest strongly and took the lead as early as the 12th minute when Nonhlanhla Mthandi found the back of the net.

Desiree Ellis' charges were relentless in the opening exchanges and doubled their advantage in the first half when Linda Motlhalo scored.

Mthandi bagged her brace ten minutes into the second half with a close-range finish to complete the scoring for the afternoon.

Th day however belonged to Matlou, who was relplaced to a standing ovation towards the end of the game.

The defender is Banyana's second most capped player of all time, only behind her former captain Janine van Wyk, who retired with 185 appearances.

Matlou's long-time teammate Nompumelelo Nyandeni will also receive her farewell cap with her 150th appearance when the teams meet again for a second friendly international at the same venue on Tuesday.

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