A Banyana squad chasing gold: Ellis names 26 players to defend Wafcon crown
Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has named a 26-player squad for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Thembi Kgatlana misses out for personal reasons, but regulars like Jane and Motlhalo are included.
South Africa face Ghana, Tanzania and Mali in Group B, with the tournament starting on 5 July.
Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has announced her final 26-player squad for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco, where South Africa will look to defend their continental title.
READ | 'The country will go crazy': Banyana want to give SA another euphoric Wafcon moment
The tournament, which was meant to take place last year but was shifted because of a clash with the Paris Olympics, kicks off on 5 July and runs until 26 July.
In naming her Banyana squad, Ellis had to make do without superstar forward Thembi Kgatlana, who has cited personal reasons for her omission.
Kayla Swart, Andile Dlamini, Lebohang Ramalepe, Fikile Magama, Linda Mothlalo, Refiloe Jane, Amogelang Motau and Jermaine Seopesenwe were some of the familiar names in the Wafcon squad.
Only 24 players will travel to Morocco, with Ntabiseng Majiya and Casey Gordon the players on stand-by who will remain in South Africa.
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Banyana have been drawn in Group B alongside Ghana, Mali and Tanzania with all their group-stage matches to be played in Oujda at the Honor Stadium.
Banyana open their campaign on 7 July against sixth-ranked Ghana, followed by a fixture against Tanzania on 11 July.
Their final group match takes place on 16 July against eighth-ranked Mali - a tie that could prove decisive in their bid to reach the knockout stages.
Ellis, who led Banyana to their first Wafcon title in 2022, will be aiming to make history once again by guiding her side to back-to-back championships - a feat only previously achieved by Nigeria.
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