South Africa women’s national soccer team coach Desiree Ellis has named a 23-player squad for next month’s back-to-back international friendly matches against Japan women’s national football team. The away fixtures form part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The squad sees the return of overseas-based stars Thembi Kgatlana and Bongeka Gamede, who both missed the recent training camp in Algeria due to injury. Ellis said the matches against Japan will provide an important opportunity to assess combinations and test players ahead of the continental tournament.
“The WAFCON squad, there’s no way that it can be finalised right now,” Ellis said. “We’ve got to give ourselves that opportunity till the very last minute to make sure we have some other players that are still out, that haven’t come back in.”
Ellis also noted that several players have recently moved clubs, which could positively impact their performances and bring renewed energy to the national setup. She added that injuries within the squad have opened opportunities for other players to step up.
“It’s always an opportunity for players to stand up when others are not there,” she said. “We know the WAFCON is coming, and we know the pressure is there about qualifying for the World Cup.”
Banyana Banyana will compete in Group B at the WAFCON tournament in Morocco from 25 July to 16 August, where they will face the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. Ellis says the team also remains focused on qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
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Photo: X/ @Banyana_Banyana
