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Banyana Banyana players praying in the change room on match day.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations defending champions, Banyana Banyana, have successfully relocated to Oujda in Morocco, where they’ll be based for the group stage of the WAFCON tournament.
Banyana will kick off the defense of their title against Ghana on Monday evening.
Despite being in the headlines recently, about their long sponsorship partnership coming to an end after 16 years and boycotting training sessions due to unpaid wages.
Defender Regina Mogolola says the team needs to remain focused to achieve success.
“It’s all systems go for the defending champions, Banyana Banyana, in Morocco. The African Champions traveled to their base camp in Oujda today, where they will play their group matches. And first up, is Ghana on Monday.”
Mogolola, who returns to the national team setup after an absence of seven years, says teamwork will be key.
We are feeling good, and we are prepared. We know what it will take to defend our title, and we will have to work as a team, play for one another, support each other, fight for one another, and do it all together.
Amogelang Motau says the players are adjusting to the weather conditions, but warned that it could be a factor during the tournament.
“The mood is becoming great. We’ve been struggling a little bit with the heat, but I think we’re acclimatizing, and everyone is coming into camp, just one player short, but I think we’re getting the hang of it.
Our rhythm is getting up, even today the session had to be cut a little bit because of the weather, but I think again we’re acclimatising and we’re getting there.
Mental preparation is just as important and Motau says a sense of self-belief has been instilled.
“That’s the mentality they’re trying to instill in us that we come into this tournament just like we came into the last one, we’re contenders, we take it one game at a time.
The focus is on us; the analysis team will do the work that’s needed for them to inform us about the game, but other than that, we’re going well.”
After Monday’s match against Ghana, Banyana will also take on Tanzania and Mali in Group C, with the match against Tanzania taking place next Friday.
