Desiree Ellis, coach of South Africa’s women’s team, insists there are positives to be taken from Sunday’s 1-1 friendly draw with Jamaica.

The hosts missed a penalty in Durban in their second last warm-up game before a maiden World Cup finals appearance.

The stalemate took Banyana Banyana’s winless streak to eight matches ahead of June’s World Cup in France.

“Winning the game gives you confidence and momentum, but we didn’t lack effort,” said Ellis.

“We wanted to go for the win and created opportunities. Winning gives you that little more confidence, it would have been fantastic to do that.

“We look at the bigger picture and that is the World Cup.

“We are happy with the effort, but there is still a concern that we are not scoring enough goals with the chances that we create.”

South Africa lead in the 26th minute through Linda Motlhalo, in front of a fairly large crowd in Durban, before the prolific striker Khadija Shaw scored top bring Jamaica back in the game.

Jamaica’s defender Sashana Campbell (L) and South Africa’s defender Nothando Vilakazi fight for the ball during the FIFA international friendly football match between South Africa and Jamaica at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban , South Africa on April 7, 2019. 

Banyana Banyana should have restored their advantage when they were awarded a penalty for handball in the box, but Leandra Smeda crashed her shot against the crossbar and had a later effort ruled offside.

“We have asked the players to go home and work on their finishing, the onus is on the players to work on that. We needed a little bit more composure in the box,” added the coach.

Now Banyana turn their attention to a prestige friendly in Santa Clara against three-time World Cup winners USA on 12 May.

At the World Cup, South Africa are in a group with China, Germany and Spain, who they meet in their first match in Le Havre on June 8.