THE diminutive defensive midfielder, Mamello Makhabane - or "Juca" to her teammates - has become an indispensable part of Banyana Banyana's hunt for an elusive World Cup berth.

She was one of the more valuable players during South Africa's 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the opening Group B game of the African Women's Championship.

Such has been the efficiency of Banyana's midfield that three of them received the most valuable player award in the three group games and against their nemesis Nigeria in tomorrow's semifinal, they will be asked to step up again under coach Vera Pauw.

At stake is a place in the World Cup for the winners, with the losers still having to slug it out in a third-place play-off to determine the last African side at the tournament .

The Super Falcons stand in Banyana's way and will be gunning for revenge after South Africa beat them at the same stage at the 2012 championship in Equatorial Guinea.

"Our aim is to qualify for the World Cup and, to be honest, getting past the semifinals will be a big morale booster for us, but even finishing third won't be the worst achievement because we will have accomplished the World Cup goal," Makhabane said.

Pauw said they would be subjected to pressure they had not been under in the tournament.

Fighting has become part of Banyana's DNA and Makhabane said they would make sure they left their boots on the artificial Sam Nujoma Stadium pitch.