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Banyana players during training
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis,says next week’s international friendly against Morocco will give new players in her team a taste of what to expect at next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament in that country.
The team has been in camp in Johannesburg since Monday, preparing for the match against Morocco which will see the tournament, expanded from 12 to 16 teams, next year.
The bulk of the squad of 23 locally based players currently in camp, are new faces and will experience conditions in Morocco for the first time.
And while they have been part of the team that played a role in Banyana Banyana’s 2026 WAFCON qualifying campaign, most weren’t part of the team that won the tournament in 2022.
Ellis says playing Morocco will give them an opportunity to have a look at some of the more inexperienced players.
She says it will also give them a taste of what to expect at next year’s WAFCON tournament in Morocco.
“We wanted to make sure that we utilise this window and going to Morocco, I think it’s a great move because you are going to a place you’ll be visiting in a couple of months. Players who weren’t there in 2022 will experience the country,” says Ellis.
While the match will be a friendly, Captain Refiloe Jane says the team will want to end the year on a high. A win will be a morale booster for players ahead of next year’s tournament.
“It’s going to be important for the team to get a positive result against Morocco, that can be a good confidence boost for the team, and we also hope youngsters can get experience,” says Jane.
Banyana Banyana will depart for Morocco on Friday with the international friendly against the 2026 WAFCON hosts to be played next Tuesday.
