Latest news with #Banyana
Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Sport
- Eyewitness News
Banyana Banyana gear up for Tri-Nations Series match against Zambia
JOHANNESBURG – Banyana Banyana to face Zambia on Tuesday for their final Tri-Nations Series, following a 3-2 win against Botswana. Kick-off for the match is set for 15:00 at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria. The Tri-Nations Series is in preparation for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with Banyana Banyana getting off to a good start less than two months before the tournament scheduled for July 5-26. Desiree Ellis' team played to a five-goal thriller against Botswana, winning 3-2 last Wednesday, 28 May, at the Lucas Moripe Stadium. 'The Zambian team brings something different (compared to Botswana), their front three are really quick. Our defensive organisation has to be really good, and when we win the ball, we have to make sure that we hurt them. That's going to be really important,' said Ellis. The Copper Queens were held to a 1-1 draw by Botswana on Saturday and are looking to sharpen their tactical edge ahead of WAFCON. The tournament in Morocco was supposed to have been played last year, but was postponed to this year as it was clashing with the Olympic Games in Paris. Banyana have been fixtured in Group C against Ghana, Mali and Tanzania.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Ellis urges composure and growth ahead of final clash with Zambia
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis will be keen to see some new combinations in action on Tuesday in their friendly against Zambia. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis says it will be important for the team to win their final Three Nations match against Zambia on Tuesday as they continue preparations for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Banyana started the tournament on a high, beating neighbours Botswana 3–2 at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Wednesday. It was a patchy display, though, as they went into the break 3–1 up, only to concede another goal in the second half, making for a nervy finish. Ellis knows that mistakes are part and parcel of football, and that's why she won't be hard on the players if they make errors at this stage of the build-up to WAFCON. Banyana will need to produce a sterling campaign in Morocco, where they will head as defending champions. 'Look, we don't have many camps where we can look at a lot of players, so this is the big game that we've had this year,' Ellis said. 'If players can withstand the pressure here, I'm sure they can withstand WAFCON. If they have a bad game, it doesn't mean they are out of the equation just yet. "They're not going to get everything right, but as long as they understand what we're trying to do, that's important. We need to see something from them. 'We still have time to work on certain things in the pre-WAFCON camp. So, we don't discard someone after one bad day — anyone can have a bad day.' Ellis is aware that Zambia, who qualified for the last Olympic Games, will be tough opposition, which is why she wants her team to be at their best throughout. 'We need to be better at the back — more organised, better communication, better positioning,' she said. 'We also need to be more composed on the ball and offer better passing options. It's going to be key not to give the ball away so easily. 'Sometimes we're not even under pressure, but we still give the ball away cheaply. If you look at the second goal against Botswana, we should have gone left, but instead we played into traffic. "One minute later, the ball was in the back of our net. We have to be better in those moments. We need to make the right decisions.' Jermaine Seoposenwe of Banyana Banyana. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix
The Star
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Hugo Broos: Glory days now, but new Bafana talent must be brought in
Mihlali Baleka | Published 2 hours ago Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos admits that the glory days are on the horizon for South African football, but he's pleaded for the nurturing of youngsters and continuity. Bafana and their female counterparts Banyana Banyana ended the 2024 calendar year on a high note as they qualified for this year's Afcon and Wafcon finals. As such, the junior men's national teams followed in their footsteps early in the year as the Under-17 men's team and Bafana's B team qualified for the World Cup and Chan finals respectively. However, the Under-20 men's team achieved their own targets in style as they won their maiden Afcon title in Egypt, having already qualified for the World Cup after reaching the semi-final. 'These are glory days for South African football, I think,' said Broos after announcing his 23-member squad yesterday for Bafana's two international friendlies in June. 'Under-17 and Under-20 have qualified for the World Cup. We have qualified for Afcon. Banyana have good results. 'Yeah, from the bottom to the highest level, everything is good at the moment. But I think we are at the crossroad for the moment – now we have to react as a football federation. 'If we are just happy now, I can assure you that in two-three years, you won't find anything of what we have now. So, we have to work hard now, and follow-up.' By following up, Broos means the junior national teams' players must be slowly but gradually integrated into the senior team, so that they are not lost in the system for future. The 73-year-old is putting his money where his mouth is at as he named a youthful squad for their two friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique in Polokwane and Loftus in June. Broos handed 10 players their maiden national team call-up, including Pirates quartet Deano van Rooyen, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Simphiwe Selepe and Mohau Nkota. The bulk of the new faces in the Bafana fold are replacing Mamelodi Sundowns players who'll be competing in the Club World Cup next month. But with Sundowns' players set to be available for the next camp, the World Cup qualifiers in September emphasised that he would still go with most of them. 'We have to see the new players who are in the squad, whether they are at the level to play for Bafana Bafana. That is the first thing,' Broos said. 'But I am sure already, it might be too soon for some of them to be ready to play at that level. The only reason we called them up is because we are looking into the future. 'We have a number of players who are 30 (years old) and more in the team. So, not next week, month or in September, but we have to slowly but surely replace these players in the future.' The majority of the new players at Bafana might only be considered for major games in future, but Broos said it'll be important for them to leave a lasting impression now. 'I will observe them – out of the pitch, on the pitch, during the game and on training,' Broos explained. 'It's not only about seeing the level of achievement, or the talent. But I don't know the guy that is there, and that for me is very important. 'In the next 10 days, I will see how they'll react in some situations. How they are with their teammates, and when eating together. This is very important to me!' Bafana Squad Goalkeepers: Ricardo Goss, Sipho Chaine, Renaldo Leaner Defenders: Khulumani Ndamane, Nyiko Mobbie, Thabo Moloisane, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Deano van Rooyen, Samukelo Kabini, Fawaaz Basadien Midfielders: Simphiwe Selepe, Thalente Mbatha, Ndamulelo Maphangule, Luke le Roux Forwards: Yanela Mbuthuma, Relebohile Mofokeng, Oswin Appollis, Mohau Nkota, Patrick Maswanganyi, Tshepang Moremi, Sinoxolo Kwayiba, Ashley Cupido
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Ellis demands more despite Banyana's winning start in Tri-Nations series
Gabriela Salgado Banyana's Gabriela Salgado clears the ball away from Botswana's Senwelo Leungo in Atteridgeville on Wednesday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Desiree Ellis welcomed a winning start to Banyana Banyana's Tri-Nations Series campaign but admitted her side made things difficult for themselves in a nervy 3–2 victory over Botswana at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday. South Africa will now shift their focus to Zambia, whom they face at the same venue (kick-off 3pm) on Tuesday in their second clash of the tournament. The Tri-Series serves as preparation for the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco this July. Banyana made a blistering start, storming to a 3–0 lead inside the opening 36 minutes. Jermaine Seopesenwe, who plays her club football for Monterrey in Mexico, bagged a brace to complement Adriette Mibe's early opener. 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 ✕ Given the short preparation period, Ellis and her technical staff would have been encouraged by the flying start, especially considering their recent mixed record against Botswana. Despite holding a higher ranking, South Africa have not always found it easy against their southern neighbours. In the last four encounters, the two nations have traded friendly victories. Botswana notably edged South Africa in the 2019 CAF Women's Olympic Qualifiers, winning 3–2 on penalties after a goalless two-legged tie. With a comfortable 3–0 advantage and just minutes left before half-time, Banyana eased off the throttle — allowing Botswana a route back into the game. The visitors accepted the invitation, nearly pulling off a dramatic turnaround. Reflecting on the match, Ellis pinpointed moments where her side gave away the early advantage and hopes for a better showing in their upcoming match against Zambia. 'With the first goal, we knew they were going to play the ball long, and we didn't react to that. The second goal that we gave away — we had said we needed to be patient on the ball, and yet we played it into traffic when we could have played wide. So there was a little lapse in concentration.' Ellis expressed concern over the second-half display, particularly the manner in which the goals were conceded — especially as they were situations the team had anticipated. 'The tempo went down a bit. In the first half, it was very high and we moved the ball around, but in the second half we didn't move ourselves or the ball — and that played in their favour,' Ellis continued. Seoposenwe gets her brace in the 35th minute — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) May 28, 2025
SowetanLIVE
6 days ago
- Sport
- SowetanLIVE
Banyana made to sweat by Botswana in friendly
Banyana Banyana started the final phase of their preparations for the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco in July with a 3-2 win over stubborn Botswana in their Tri-Nations friendly at Lucas Moripe Stadium yesterday. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis started the match geared towards build-up to South Africa's defence of their Wafcon 2022 title with veteran midfielder Refiloe Jane, who was making her return to the team for the first time in more than a year after injury. Jane, who stayed on the pitch for 70 minutes until she was replaced by Bongeka Gamede, played closely with Amogelang Motau in the heart of the midfield.
