Banyana Banyana star Salgado has successful operation
Salgado sustained a bad fracture to her left leg during South Africa's loss to Nigeria in the semi-finals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.
The 27-year-old will be out of action for the rest of the year and will return home with the team next week.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Will Fawaaz Basadien's signing strengthen Mamelodi Sundowns after a similar signing failed?
Fawaaz Basadien's arrival at Mamelodi Sundowns creates a competitive landscape at left-back, challenging him to prove his worth amidst a talented squad and potentially impacting national team selections. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The reasons might be slightly the same, but the outcomes could be totally different should Fawaaz Basadien show mental strength and duly fight for his position. When Mamelodi Sundowns signed Terrence Mashego from Cape Town City in 2022, then coach Rulani Mokwena made a bold reason behind the signing. He said: 'When that type of talent is available in the market, you've got to go for it before it goes on to strengthen a rival and make them stronger.' Mokwena was candid more than anything, especially given the fact that the clubs had depth at left-back and enough cover for Bafana Bafana international Aubrey Modiba. And so, after the club announced the signing of Basadien on Saturday, it seemed Sundowns' intentions couldn't be nearer to Mokwena's explanation. The Brazilians still have Modiba, Mashego, Sifiso Ngobeni and Divine Lunga for the left-back position at their disposal. So did they really need Basadien? Well, that remains to be seen. What is known is that Basadien brings depth to Sundowns as he has proven himself at Stellenbosch over the years. Last season, Basadien might have stood out for his set-piece taking technique and scoring abilities, having scored that screamer in the iKapa derby, but he's a fully-fledged product. Basadien aces his primary duties - defending - to the tee, and has evolved in moving high up as he joins in on build-ups, something that can be affirmed with his goals from open play. So, given that Sundowns are a ball-playing team, still playing within the ethos of 'shoeshine and piano', he should be able to fit into the teams' system like a glove. The slight problem is that his qualities are similar to those of Modiba's - something that will give coach Miguel Cardoso either a nice headache, sleepless nights or both. Having identical players means that Cardoso will have a direct replacement in case of eventualities, but in the same breath he can't play them together at once. This two-edged sword does not only apply to Cardoso, but Bafana coach Hugo Broos as well. The sleepless night might even need tablets for Broos especially if another left-back player from another club is on form than the benched one at Sundowns. Broos has always been open about the value of Sundowns players as their continental experience augurs well for the national teams. But in the same breath, the Belgian has always stressed about the number of players that Sundowns sign season in and season out as that deters progress. And so, leading up to the World Cup qualifiers, and the Africa Cup of Nations in December, he might grow more grey hair just from calling up players for the left-back position. Should Basadien or Modiba be dropped at Sundowns that will change Broos' plans as they were regulars last season for their respective clubs, taking the feisty, healthy competition to Bafana. Yes, competition between the two players will help them get the best out of one another at club level, but the issue of them playing together remains a tough puzzle to solve. There's the modern approach of players being fluid, and able to play in a host of positions, but I am sure neither of them will want to hop from one position to another ahead of AFCON. By the time the teams leave the South African shores, they'll both want to fly out knowing that they are the first choice at left-back. Over the years, Modiba has been both Sundowns and Bafana's preferred left-back. So, perhaps the arrival of Basadien will keep him on his toes. Basadien's mental strength, despite reuniting with homeboys Iqraam Rayners and Jayden Adams, and Bafana teammates, will be tested at Sundowns this season. But unlike Mashego who's failed to stamp his authority at the club and is reportedly set to be released, Basadien has the qualities of fighting for a starting berth and quickly adapting. After all, he knows the ins and outs of Gauteng, having played for Moroka Swallows three seasons ago. Hence, he'll unlikely make the statistic of being one of the Western Cape born players who struggled in Gauteng.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Banyana Banyana's future uncertain after WAFCON disappointment
The weight of expectation: Banyana Banyana's coach Desiree Ellis faces an uncertain future after the team's disappointing WAFCON campaign. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix COMMENT Following their WAFCON failures (semi-final and bronze medal), the mood surrounding Banyana Banyana is sombre. Following their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semi-final and bronze medal failures, a sombre mood surrounds Banyana Banyana. A once-promising campaign ended in disappointment, leaving supporters and pundits alike contemplating the future of coach Desiree Ellis. The echoes of disappointment resonate not only on the pitch but also in the media, where calls for introspection and potential change have taken centre stage. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Following the team's underwhelming performance at the continental tournament, several media commentators have voiced their opinions with a striking mix of concern and urgency. One stark message directed at Ellis suggested: 'Do yourself a favour, jump before you're pushed.' This honest advice highlights the level of scrutiny the team faces after the tournament, which fell well short of the expectations for the defending WAFCON champions. Another piece of veiled advice carried a poetic tone: 'A good dancer knows when to leave the stage.' This metaphor not only highlights the need for introspection but also questions whether Ellis remains the right conductor for the orchestra that is Banyana Banyana. The dance of sport requires a certain deftness and timing, and there are growing concerns that perhaps the rhythm of the team's success has faltered under her guidance. Ellis's achievements cannot be dismissed. She guided Banyana Banyana to a historic first WAFCON title and a World Cup last-16 round appearance. However, the reality of the sport means that past glories can quickly fade under the weight of fresh expectations. In South Africa, sport is more than just a game; it embodies national pride, unity, and hope, elevating the pressure on coaches and players alike. As the squad makes its way home, former players and experts have weighed in on the debate. Some advocate for patience and continuity with Ellis, arguing that building a successful national team takes time and perseverance. Others have echoed calls for a change in leadership as the first step towards the necessary reform.
IOL News
17 hours ago
- IOL News
Desiree Ellis outlines Banyana Banyana's path to recovery after Wafcon disappointment
Despite an uncertain future, Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis believes the national teams must prioritise youth development and improved preparation to succeed on the international stage. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix The future of Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis might be uncertain, but she has detailed what the team needs to do to improve going forward. Banyana had a poor outing at the recently concluded Women's Africa Cup of Nations as they relinquished their title and finished fourth. Consequently, this put Ellis' future with the team in serious jeopardy, especially given allegations that she had been working without a contract since 2022. Ellis started working with the national teams eleven years ago when she served as Vera Pauw's assistant coach in 2014. Ladies and gentlemen, your Fair Play Team for #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 is.. 🥁 🇿🇦 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔 🇿🇦 — CAF Women's Football (@CAFwomen) July 26, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ She then temporarily took over the reins from Pauw in 2016 before she was finally appointed as the head coach in 2018 to date. During her stint, the 62-year-old has achieved the improbable, including winning Banyana's maiden WAFCON and qualifying for back-to-back World Cups. However, she was unable to defend the crown in Morocco recently due to an underwhelming performance, including losing to eventual champions Nigeria in the semi-final. So, where to go for Ellis? Will she resolve her contractual issues with Safa and stay put to ensure the team qualifies for the 2027 World Cup through next year's WAFCON? 'No comment!' said Ellis during her post-match press conference on Friday following the 4-3 loss to Ghana on penalties after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time. 'Because whatever it is that I am going to say right now, it's going to be taken out of context anyway. So, I'd rather say 'no comment'.' While she is tight-lipped about the direction of her future, she has pointed out that lack of time to prepare for their title defence led to their shortcomings. 'I don't want to make excuses, but we had more time in 2022 to prepare. Our league started late, so we have to consider all those factors,' Ellis said. 'We have to consider how we'd go this tournament – so that's why we made sure that we rotated players for freshness. We had four injured in the stands and five outfield substitutes. So, that's how it goes, but we'll go back and look at what we can do better. 'In 2018, we looked at how we played and what we were doing, and we did things a little bit differently in 2022.' Banyana blew hot and cold after the 2022 WAFCON. They reached the World Cup last sixteen for the first time in 2023, missed out on the Olympics and have now relinquished their title. So, as Ellis tries to map the way forward she knows that she has to usher in a new era, and integrate some new players into the team. There were glimpses of a new dawn at WAFCON as Ronnel Donnelly made her international debut and got to share the pitch with her now retired idol Jermaine Seoposenwe. Ellis, though, stresses that the failure of the junior national teams to qualify for major tournaments is what will hinder their progress going forward. 'Like we said, the continent is like a gold-mine, so everyone has got to step up because there are a lot of investments,' Ellis explained. 'You have seen the investments in the other countries. We need to step up or we are going to be left behind. We have the talent, but our youth teams need to qualify for tournaments. 'So, that's the experience that other countries get - when the youth teams go to these tournaments. Ghana, Tanzania, and Nigeria have been doing it. 'Nigeria have been doing it at every level. So, when you see those players coming through with that experience (it becomes very crucial).'
