Latest news with #Banyana
IOL News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Seoposenwe bows out with pride as Banyana chase Wafcon bronze
Jermaine Seoposenwe will play her final match for Banyana Banyana on Friday night after a career that spanned over 100 caps, two World Cups and a Wafcon title. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Jermaine Seoposenwe owes football everything. So, as she prepares for her last Banyana Banyana appearance, she bows out with gratitude and pride. Banyana will face Ghana in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off at Stade El Arbi Zaouli in Casablanca on Friday night (kick-off 6pm). The clash is set to mark Seoposenwe's final outing with Banyana after she announced, prior to the tournament, that she would retire from international football after its conclusion. The 31-year-old will leave behind a decorated international career, having earned more than 100 caps, won the Wafcon title and played in two World Cups. Retiring From International Football — Jermaine Seoposenwe (@jermaine109) June 16, 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Her journey with the national team endeared her to fans across the continent and the world, thanks to her silky playing style and eye for goal. Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the clash against the Black Queens, the Cape Town-born player reflected on the impact football has had on her life. 'Football has been everything for me. Football has given me everything that I have. The way I play is how I repay what football has given me,' she said. 'The passion and love for the game is why we do it. Over the years, Banyana has given me a platform to showcase my abilities and has taken me to places I never thought I'd go. 'I owe football everything. It's been a great learning curve, not just on the football field but outside of it as well.' What an assist from Rama🥵😤 — Jermaine Seoposenwe (@jermaine109) July 7, 2025 Seoposenwe's decision to call time on her international career ahead of a major tournament sparked mixed reactions in the football fraternity. Some felt it was understandable given the many off-field challenges Banyana have faced, while others believed it could destabilise the team's performance. However, she is confident she made the right decision for her own well-being – and does not anticipate a World Cup comeback. 'It's been a sense of relief – I don't know if that's the right word – and a sense of calmness,' said Seoposenwe of her decision. 'The fact that it's coming to an end is kind of weird, but it was for my well-being and I stand by that decision. It's been an interesting tournament, watching the younger players step up and take responsibility. I am really proud of them. 'I hope that going forward they'll take the torch and run with it. Playing for Banyana Banyana is not the easiest thing – there's a lot of pressure. 'Hopefully, I've shown them that you can do it – stay true to yourself and stay disciplined in whatever you do.' Seoposenwe will bow out as a true Banyana legend who wore her heart on her sleeve every time she donned the national jersey. However, she prefers to be remembered not for who she was off the pitch, but for the player she was on it. She was particularly proud to be a role model to the next generation, including Ronnel Donnely, who idolises her. 'First and foremost, I think it allowed me to just be calm about everything because I made that decision before the tournament,' said Seoposenwe. 'Coming into the tournament, I have been settled and calm. Ronnel, especially, has come up to me and tried to extract a lot of information. 'I am not a No 9, but in this tournament I've been playing as a No 9, which is her position, so she's come up to chat and learn. I appreciate that she sees me as a role model. A lot of players have joked with me about my legacy, but it's very interesting to be in that position.' And so, with Banyana having relinquished their title following the 2-1 semi-final loss to Nigeria, a bronze medal against Ghana would offer fitting consolation for Seoposenwe – and a special farewell to the team that shaped her footballing life.
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Banyana still have a lot to play for at WAFCON, says Ellis
'It's not just the medal but like I said we're going to try and do this for Gabriela," said Ellis. Despite their failure to defend their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Banyana Banyana still have something to play for and they will fight with everything left in them to return home with a medal. This is according to Banyana coach Desiree Ellis. ALSO READ: Banyana star Salgado on the mend after successful surgery Speaking ahead of the third-place playoff match against Ghana at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Friday night (kick-off is at 9pm SA time), Ellis said that it was important for Banyana to end their WAFCON campaign on a high note. 'Most definitely, there's disappointment with not getting to the final of course but there's still something to play for and that is important,' said Ellis. Ellis added that they also want to win their encounter against the Black Queens for Gabriela Salgado, who will miss it because of an injury. Salgado suffered a serious injury during Banyana Banyana's 2-1 loss to Nigeria in a semifinal clash played against Nigeria at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium last Tuesday. 'It's not just the medal but like I said we're going to try and do this for Gabriela. She is going home with an injury, we will make sure that she gets a medal because it's important that we still fight for the third place, so there's still something to play for, it's not just a playoff match that doesn't mean anything. It's a playoff match that gets you a medal and I think it's going to be important how we lift ourselves up after this and then get ready for that match,' said Ellis. Meanwhile, Salgado underwent a successful operation at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday. Banyana team doctor, Dr Lindi Mokoena, says following the operation, Salgado will be out of action for the rest of the year. 'Gabi sustained a fracture of the mid-shaft of her left leg during the fixture against Nigeria and underwent a successful surgery at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca. She will be out of action for the rest of the year, but we are pleased that she received exceptional care from the medical team of Banyana Banyana, CAF and the hospital,' said Dr Mokoena. ALSO READ: Ellis blames Salgado injury for Banyana's WAFCON loss 'We were fully confident and comfortable with the procedure that was performed in Morocco and would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to CAF and the dedicated staff at the Mohamed VI University Hospital for their professionalism and outstanding support during this time.'
The Herald
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald
‘We'll do this for Gabi,' says Ellis as Banyana fight for bronze at Wafcon
Salgado was successfully operated on at Mohammed VI University Hospital in Casablanca, but is likely to spend six months on the sidelines. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis said she had to play a different role for distraught Banyana players — like midfielder Linda Motlhalo — when they could not keep hold of their emotions after Salgado's horror injury on Tuesday. 'I was a mother, and I was just trying to say to her, 'Stay calm, just do that for Gabi'. That was the talk: 'Do that for Gabi and make sure you get over the line for Gabi', because that's what it was all about at that moment. 'It was very difficult to keep them calm because a lot of them broke down. Going back onto the field I think some were still crying and I think that's really what got to them.'
TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
‘We'll do this for Gabi,' says Ellis as Banyana fight for bronze at Wafcon
Banyana Banyana want to at least come back from the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) with the bronze medal in honour of injured teammate Gabriela Salgado. Salgado suffered a broken leg as the defending champions relinquished their crown to nine-time champions Nigeria with a 2-1 semifinal defeat in Casablanca, Morocco on Tuesday. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis said they will dedicate Friday's third-place playoff game to Salgado and play for the bronze when they meet Ghana, losers on penalties in their semifinal against Morocco, at Casablanca's Stade Larbi Zaouli on Friday (9pm). The final between the hosts and Super Falcons is at Stade Olympique de Rabat on Saturday (10pm). Salgado was successfully operated on at Mohammed VI University Hospital in Casablanca, but is likely to spend six months on the sidelines. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis said she had to play a different role for distraught Banyana players — like midfielder Linda Motlhalo — when they could not keep hold of their emotions after Salgado's horror injury on Tuesday. 'I was a mother, and I was just trying to say to her, 'Stay calm, just do that for Gabi'. That was the talk: 'Do that for Gabi and make sure you get over the line for Gabi', because that's what it was all about at that moment. 'It was very difficult to keep them calm because a lot of them broke down. Going back onto the field I think some were still crying and I think that's really what got to them.' 🏆 𝕎𝔸𝔽ℂ𝕆ℕ 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟜 🏆 ⚽️ ⒼⓄⒶⓁ: Nigeria restore their lead against Banyana Banyana. 🇳🇬 2⃣➖1⃣ 🇿🇦 🚨 LIVE 📺 SABC Sport | SABC 3 📱 #SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 — SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 22, 2025 Saslgado's injury came late in the semifinal with the scores at 1-1 and minutes later Banyana conceded a fluke-ish goal when Michelle Azolie's speculative cross evaded Nigeria's attackers and Banyana's defenders and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini for the 94th-minute decider. Ellis accepted South Africa had failed to defend their trophy but said she is hoping her players will have recovered enough to focus and win Friday's match against Ghana. 'Look there's nothing we can do. There's two days — a recovery day and two days. Again, when we huddled after the game we said if we didn't have a reason [to win on Friday], now have a reason to play for Gabi. 'That's what it [the third-place game] is all about, to make sure she goes off with a medal and to make sure Jermaine Seoposenwe [who retires from international football after Wafcon] also goes off well. That's how important it is.' Banyana have an advantage in that they have already defeated Ghana 2-0 in this tournament in their round-robin stage opener, where Motlhalo and Seoposenwe provided the goals to set up Banyana topping Group C. Ghana also progressed to the last 8 as they finished second after their 4-1 victory over Tanzania in their final group match. The Black Queens improve as the tournament progressed and beat Algeria on penalties in the quarterfinals to set up their semifinal against Morocco, who they pushed all the way with a 1-1 draw in 120 minutes before being defeated by spot-kicks. So the Black Queens Banyana face on Feriday night should be a notably stronger combination from the side they faced in the opening game in Oujda. But Banyana have an advantage in that they didn't have to travel after their defeat against Nigeria, but Ghana had to move from Rabat to Casablanca.
The Citizen
17 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Banyana star Salgado on the mend after successful surgery
Salgado will be out of action for the rest of the year. Injured Banyana Banyana utility player Gabriela Salgado underwent a successful operation at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco, on Wednesday. Salgado was stretchered off following a serious injury during the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) semifinal clash against Nigeria at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Tuesday, which was lost 2-1 by South Africa. ALSO READ: Ellis blames Salgado injury for Banyana's WAFCON loss Banyana team doctor, Dr Lindi Mokoena, says following the operation, Salgado will be out of action for the rest of the year. 'Gabi sustained a fracture of the mid-shaft of her left leg during the fixture against Nigeria and underwent a successful surgery at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca. She will be out of action for the rest of the year, but we are pleased that she received exceptional care from the medical team of Banyana Banyana, CAF and the hospital,' Mokoena told SAFA media. 'We were fully confident and comfortable with the procedure that was performed in Morocco and would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to CAF and the dedicated staff at the Mohamed VI University Hospital for their professionalism and outstanding support during this time.' Banyana and Super Falcons visit Salgado in hospital Salgado's Banyana Banyana teammates visited her at the hospital on Tuesday night after she had been stabilised following the injury. Meanwhile, in a show of sportsmanship, some Nigerian players also went to the hospital to visit Salgado on Wednesday and presented her with a signed Super Falcon jersey. 'The entire Super Falcons of Nigeria family, from players and coaches to staff were profoundly saddened to learn of the serious injury sustained by Gabriela Salgado during yesterday's match. Our immediate thoughts are solely with her for comfort, care, and the recovery journey ahead,' read a statement from the Super Falcons team. 'We are holding Gabriela, her teammates, her family and close friends in our hearts, sending our deepest wishes for strength and resilience. Our immediate focus, and our enduring concern, is solely for her wellbeing, comfort, and recovery. 'The spirit of competition instantly fades in moments like these, replaced by a shared sense of care for a fellow athlete. As fellow members of this football community, The Super Falcons NGR stands firmly alongside Banyana Banyana in solidarity and support. Our collective wish is for Gabriela's steady healing, renewed strength, and a return to the pitch when she is ready, surrounded by the unwavering support of the team and community. With sincere sympathy and solidarity,' Banyana were given the day off and returned training on Thursday to conclude preparations for the third-place playoff match against Ghana at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca tonight (kick-off is at 9pm SA time).
