Desiree Ellis names the team for the Botswana and Zambia friendlies
JOHANNESBURG - Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has announced the squad that will face Zambia and Botswana in international friendlies to be played this month.
'We are the highest-ranked team in the COSAFA region, but I don't think that means anything. I think being the WAFCON defending champions as well, I think that carries a bit of weight on your back with everybody wanting to play you and wanting to beat you and come up and put up the best performance,' said Desiree Ellis.
The South African senior women's national team will play against Botswana on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, and then Botswana and Zambia will face off against each other on Saturday, 31 May 2025. Then, Dr Ellis' charges will wrap up the Three-Nations series against Zambia on Tuesday, 3 June 2025.
'But we also know that it's a test not just for us but for them. We're all going to the WAFCON. Botswana got to the quarterfinals, and Zambia got to the semi-finals the last time. So the test is for us, but just so much as it is for them, and I think the physicality that both of them are going to bring is something we sometimes struggle with.'
The matches are part of the senior women's national team's preparations for the defence of their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title as the countdown continues to the continental tournament to be hosted in Morocco from 5-26 July 2025.
'I think we've got to have more control, and this will help us to see where we are with that. Defensively, we've got to be sound and obviously at set-pieces we're going to be challenged with the area that they have. The speed of both teams' attack that they have, we've got to be able to then organise our defensive shape better because that is what's going to happen at WAFCON.'
Thembi Kgatlana has not been selected to this camp as she has club commitments that would have made it difficult for her to travel from North America and still be fresh enough for the two friendlies.
All three matches will be played at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, and kick-off is at 15h00 for all of them.
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