The Banyana Banyana’s wavering financial dispute with the South African Football Association (Safa) is finally over and the players landed safely in Australia/New Zealand on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, for their all-important 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup campaign that kicks off later this month.
Banyana are among the four teams that will be representing Africa at the global showpiece, having been pitted with Argentina, Italy, and tournament favourites Sweden in Group G.
South Africa will be making their second world cup appearance, following their disappointing campaign at the 2019 World Cup in France – where they got eliminated in the group stages without winning a single match. The only highlight of that tournament was Thembi Kgatlana’s world class goal from outside the box during their opener against Spain.
Though, this year will be a different ball game all together as Banyana are the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) reigning champions.
Despite the team’s state of mental readiness still in question after the embarrassing last-minute send-off match fiasco with Safa, Banyana have what it takes to cause an upset and deliver at an international stage.
Here is a brief analysis of Banyana’s Group G opponents:
Sweden:
It goes without saying that coach Desiree Ellis and her troops have a tough task at hand, as they will be desperate to walk away with a positive result in their opening encounter against a highly experienced Swedish side.
Despite being regarded as one of the tournament’s favourites after reaching the semifinals at the previous world cup finals, the Swedes have been on a patchy run of form – winning only one of their last four games played this year.
Argentina:
Argentina is another side that has not made a huge impact on the world stage, also crashing out of the previous world cup edition in the group stages.
The la Albiceleste, as they are fondly known, are a well-organised side in defence, led by captain fantastic Aldana Cometti. Building up to the tournament, the South Americans have been on an impressive run, winning four of their last five matches this year.
Italy:
Like Banyana, Italy go into the tournament with a lot of chemistry within their squad, as some of their key players ply their trade in the Italian domestic league.
They are also a side that is good in defence, as they did not concede a single goal from open play in five games at their last world cup.
Their weakness will, however, be Banyana captain Refiloe Jane, who will know a thing or two about them, as the Sassuolo midfielder plays with and against them regularly in the Italian Serie A.
Banyana’s Fixtures:
July 23: Sweden v South Africa
July 28: Argentina v South Africa
August 2: South Africa v Italy
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa.
