SEDIBENG.- Banyana Banyana gear up for their opening match for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Sweden on Sunday, 23 July.
Banyana Banyana wrapped their preparations on a high note when they beat Costa Rica 2-0 in an international friendly match on Saturday. This was a moral booster ahead of their G group games alongside Argentina, Italy, and Sweden which are their first opponents in their group.
Banyana Banyana Coach, Desiree Ellis was pleased with the performance of her charges ahead of their opening match. It seems as if Banyana Banyana are now ready and focused to take the field after what transpired ahead of their departure to New Zealand when they boycotted their international friendly match against Botswana and forced SAFA to select a bunch of players from local teams to honour this match.
The news from the Banyana Banyana camp is that all players are looking forward to the historical opening match against Sweden. Banyana Banyana looked sharp against Costa Rica and the score is not the true reflection of the results. Banyana Banyana could have won the game with a high score if they took the chances they created on the day. Ellis was pleased with her team’s performance as she told the media that they were ready to take the field come July 23.
“This was a morale booster ahead of our opening match and the spirit is high among the players. They are all looking forward to the opening match. We have been working hard at training to finalise some of the aspects of our games, especially in the final third. I’m happy that at least we can create many chances but the only thing is to convert those chances into goals, rather than that we look good and not score,” said Ellis.
Meanwhile, former Banyana Banyana midfielder, Rose Jijane wished Bananyana Banyana all the best ahead of their opening match against Sweden. Jijane who is one of the most capped Banyana Banyana players after Portia Modise believes that Banyana Banyana has what it takes to go all the way to the final of the tournament. She urges South Africans to rally behind Banyana Banyana the same as they did with Bafana Bafana in the 2010 World Cup.
