One of Banyana Banyana’s highest capped stars, Mpumi Nyandeni, is confident that Desiree Ellis’ team will defend its title at the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco in two weeks’ time.
This year’s Wafcon, which takes place again in Morocco, will be played from July 5 to 26.
Impressive job at Fifa
On Monday, coach Ellis announced her final team that will be flying the SA flag high one more time after they won the Wafcon in Morocco in 2022. They also did an impressive job at the Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand in 2023.
Nyandeni, who has 150 caps for the SA women’s senior national team, played alongside Banyana stars such as Portia Modise and Veronica Phewa during her golden years.
In April, she joined the illustrious list of Banyana stars who have played more than 150 matches. The others are Janine van Wyk (185) and Noko Matlou (174). Portia Modise has 124 caps.
Nyandeni was also part of the Banyana team that qualified for the Olympics for the first time in 2012 in London. They also took part in the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil.
“I believe that they can win it and defend their trophy. I am not surprised at the squad that was announced by coach Desiree [Ellis]. She needed to introduce a couple of youngsters because the likes of Noko Matlou, Janine van Wyk, Thembi Kgatlane, Nomvula Kgoale and Thalea Smidt are not in the team,” said Nyandeni.
Threat from Ghana
“The girls can win it if they believe in themselves. They have been there before and have played at the highest level. It’s for the senior players to guide the young ones. The likes of Jermaine Seopasenwe, Linda Motlhalo, Bambanani Mbani, Refiloe Jane and Andile Dhlamini are highly experienced. And they should lead the team in the battle.”
She added that there will be a threat in the form of Ghana. The latter were not in the last edition of Wafcon that Banyana won in 2022.
“Ghana was not there in 2022, and they will be back with a vengeance; I know them. Nigeria is very dangerous, but we have played a lot of matches against them. We beat them at the Wafcon and they beat us in the Olympic qualifiers. We know how to handle them,” Nyandeni added.
