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Joseph Carne-Ross
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Noko Alice Matlou[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 30 September 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Moletjie, South Africa | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker, defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | CP Cacereño Femenino | ||
| Number | 12 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Development Ladies | |||
| Brazilian Ladies | |||
| 2013- | University of Johannesburg | ||
| -2019 | Ma-Indies Ladies | ||
| 2021–2024 | Eibar | 40 | (0) |
| 2024- | CP Cacereño Femenino | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2025 | South Africa | 174 | (66) |
Medal record | |||
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 May 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 April 2025 | |||
Noko Alice Matlou (born 30 September 1985) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Spanish Primera Federación side CP Cacereño Femenino. She has played for the South Africa women's national team both as a striker and a defender.
In 2008, Matlou became the first South African to receive a CAF award when she was named African Women's Footballer of the Year.[2]
Matlou has represented the South Africa women's national football team 174 times, including at the 2012, 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2019, and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups. She is the second most capped African player.[3]
Club career
At a club level, she played for Ma-Indies Ladies. She has previously played for Development Ladies, Brazilian Ladies and the University of Johannesburg. Within footballing circles, she is nicknamed "Beep-Beep".[4]
In 2008, she became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football.[5]
CP Cacereño Femenino
In August 2024, she signed a 1-year contract with Primera Federación side CP Cacereño Femenino.[6]
International career
Matlou made her debut for South Africa women's national football team ("Banyana Banyana") in December 2006.[7] In September 2009, Matlou was subjected to a gender "inspection" by a referee in the presence of the opposition captain, before South Africa's match against Ghana at Caledonian Stadium, Pretoria. She was allowed to play in the match after being confirmed as female.[8]
Matlou came to prominence within the national team by scoring six goals at the 2008 African Women's Championship.[7] She has been selected for the squads for a variety of tournaments, including at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom.[4] In 2014, South Africa's coach Vera Pauw deployed Matlou—previously a striker, as a defender.[9]
In March 2025 she announced her retirement from international football after the April international break.[10] Her last match would be against Malawi. Matlou captained Banyana Banyana on her 174th cap in a 3-0 win over Malawi at UJ Soweto campus on 5 April 2025.[11] She is the second most capped African player behind Janine van Wyk (185 caps).[12]
Honours
South Africa
Individual
References
- ^ "Athlete Information". Universiade 2013. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Former CAF Women's Footballer of the Year Matlou retires from international football". Former CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year Matlou retires from international football. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ Ntloko, Mninawa (5 April 2025). "Matlou takes final bow as her Banyana colleagues give her a fitting farewell - SAFA.net". Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Noko Alice "Beep-Beep" Matlou". Sasol in Sport. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Noko Matlou makes history". KickOff. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Banyana Banyana defender Noko Matlou finds a new home in Spain | soccer". SABC. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ^ a b Taele, Keabetswe (8 December 2008). "Banyana do SA proud". Independent Online (South Africa).
- ^ "Banyana dispute gender cheating claims". Sport24. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ Moholoa, Ramatsiyi (10 July 2014). "Matlou adapts to Banyana role in defence". The Sowetan. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ^ "Noko Matlou confirms Banyana Banyana retirement | soccer". SABC. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
- ^ "Banyana Banyana thrash Malawi as Noko Matlou bids farewell to international football | soccer". SABC. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ Contributor, gsport (6 April 2025). "Football Icon Noko Matlou Captains Banyana Banyana in Swan-Song Win over Malawi". gsport4girls. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Magaia brace hands South Africa first TotalEnergies WAFCON trophy". CAF. 29 June 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
External links
- Noko Matlou at BDFútbol
- Noko Matlou – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Noko Matlou on Twitter
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