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.
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.
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".
In 2008, she became the first South African to be named African Women's Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football.
CP Cacereño Femenino In August 2024, she signed a 1-year contract with Primera Federación side CP Cacereño Femenino.
International career Matlou made her debut for South Africa women's national football team ("Banyana Banyana") in December 2006. 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.
Matlou came to prominence within the national team by scoring six goals at the 2008 African Women's Championship. She has been selected for the squads for a variety of tournaments, including at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. In 2014, South Africa's coach Vera Pauw deployed Matlou—previously a striker, as a defender.
In March 2025 she announced her retirement from international football after the April international break. 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. She is the second most capped African player behind Janine van Wyk (185 caps).
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 23 February 2008 Harare, Zimbabwe 3–1 4–1 2008 African Women's Championship qualification 2. 4–1 3. 16 November 2008 Estadio La Libertad, Bata, Equatorial Guinea 1–? 2–1 2008 African Women's Championship 4. 25 November 2008 Estadio Internacional, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea 1–0 3–0 5. 2–0 6. 3–0 7. 29 November 2008 1–1 1–2 8. 7 March 2009 GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus 1–0 2–0 2009 Cyprus Women's Cup 9. 10 March 2009 Makario Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus 1–3 2–3 10. 15 July 2009 Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam, Netherlands 2–0 3–2 Friendly 11. 1 March 2010 GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus 1–0 1–2 2010 Cyprus Women's Cup 12. 3 March 2010 1–0 1–2 13. 2 April 2011 King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, South Africa 1–0 1–0 2012 CAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament 14. 3 July 2011 Gwanzura, Harare, Zimbabwe 2–0 4–0 2011 COSAFA Women's Championship 15. 6 July 2011 5–1 5–1 16. 27 August 2011 Orlando Stadium, Soweto, South Africa 1–0 3–0 2012 CAF Women's Olympic qualifying tournament 17. 2–0 18. 3–0 19. 26 May 2012 Nkoloma Stadium, Lusaka, Zambia 1–0 4–1 2012 African Women's Championship qualification 20. 11 April 2015 Dobsonville Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa 4–0 5–0 2015 African Games 21. 7 March 2018 GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus 1–0 1–2 2018 Cyprus Women's Cup
Honours South Africa
Women's Africa Cup of Nations: 2022, runners-up: 2008, 2012, 2018; third place: 2010
Individual African Women's Footballer of the Year: 2008
References
External links Noko Matlou at BDFútbol