Banyana Banyana will wrap up the inaugural three nations series with the highly anticipated clash against Zambia at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Tuesday afternoon. Kick-off is at 15h00.
The Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s national team comes into the match following a spirited 3–2 win over Botswana last week, while Zambia was held to a draw by the same side at the weekend, setting the stage for a competitive and decisive finale in the tri-nation tournament.
Speaking ahead of the final fixture, Banyana coach Desiree Ellis emphasised the importance of adaptability and continued growth.
“When you play different opponents, you plan differently. We know they’re going to bring many things that we need to be better at,” Ellis said.
“We also know that they’re going to challenge us in a different way than Botswana did, but we need to be better defensively.”
Reflecting on the Botswana match, Ellis acknowledged areas for improvement while maintaining confidence in her squad’s ability to rise to the challenge.
Preparing for upcoming Wafcon
“The two goals that we gave away [against Botswana], we could’ve handled those situations better.
“We’re looking for improved performance in all areas — better on the ball, better organised, and more chances.”
The fixture concludes the series and provides vital preparation for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in July, with all three participating Cosafa teams having qualified for the continental showpiece.
Ellis has also named her preliminary Banyana Wafcon squad, with the final team set to be announced in the coming weeks.
During the Wafcon tournament in Morocco, Banyana will start their title defence against unpredictable teams such as Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania in Group C.
Banyana won the title in 2002 after beating Morocco 2-1 in the final to lift the continental title.
