African women’s football champions Banyana Banyana have secured two much-needed international friendly matches as they begin to start their preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), which will take place later this year.
Banyana are the defending champions after they won the tournament in 2022, when they defeated Morocco in front of their own supporters, rewriting history books at the same time. The South Africans will have to be on top of their game. Especially after they missed out on qualifying for the Olympic Games for the second time in a row.
Secured two away matches
Banyana will play the two away international friendly matches against Senegal during the coming Fifa break at the end of the month. Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges will face the West Africans in their backyard on May 31 and June 4. The lanky west Africans are one of the toughest teams in the continent. And they will surely give Banyana a torrid test in these matches.
“We have always said that we are going to utilise the Fifa dates going forward. And we now have these two international friendlies against Senegal. We need to stay active to be ready and prepare for the Wafcon,” said Ellis on the Safa website.
Eager to start preparing for Wafcon
“There are players coming back from injury, and we also want to see other players during these friendlies against Senegal. We need to prepare and be ready for Wafcon. We haven’t received any communication on when it is going to happen. But we will utilise these Fifa dates to make sure that we start preparing.”
The next Wafcon will be held in Morocco. But the dates and timelines of the biggest women’s sports competition in the continent are yet to be announced by the Confederation of African Football.
The final 23-player squad for the away international friendlies against Senegal will be announced later in the week.
