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Banyana training camp
The South African senior women’s football team has stepped up preparations for its Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence in Morocco later this year. Banyana Banyana will play two international friendlies against Lesotho in the coming weeks, with a new and experimental team.
Banyana Banyana assembled for camp on Monday, with training commencing in earnest on Tuesday despite the gloomy weather in Johannesburg this week. The camp is for the two warm-up matches against Lesotho.
But the bigger picture is to start preparations for the WAFCON in Morocco and also to add depth to the squad. And coach Desiree Ellis has appealed to the young players to make their mark in the matches against Lesotho.
“So, this is to add to the core group whether it’s now before WAFCON or after because we also have the 2026 world cup qualifier in October. After that it’s their final tournament so we are not just preparing, for now, we are also preparing for the future. I remember in 2018, Karabo and Sebolelo went to the under 17 world cup and couple of months later they were at the senior world cup that is the message that I said to these players that nothing is stopping you but you have to show us.”
The players are also ready to heed the coach’s call to prove themselves. Adrielle Mibe, who plays for the University of Johannesburg, says players want to stake their claim in the first team for WAFCON.
“It’s there no matter the age some are older some are younger, we can see with the girls the level we are trying to achieve to be able to compete with each other we will all try to get in the first team.”
The Banyana squad is full of young and inexperienced players but they’re still expected to brush aside their neighbours, Lesotho.
Mmabatho Mogale, who plays for the University of the Western Cape, says they will not underestimate their opponents.
“I don’t think we know much about Lesotho but we have played with their under 20s and when we went to the COSAFA we never played them because they went out before the semifinals. We viewed their videos at the hotel, I wouldn’t say it’s going to be more of a challenge but we should not take advantage of that.”
Midfielder Isabella Ludwig is currently without a team but she hopes that exposure to Banyana will boost her profile.
“Definitely it adds to my player profile which helps boost it and I am happy for the opportunity.”
The first match will be played on Saturday, while the second is scheduled for Tuesday, both in Johannesburg.
