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CAF
7 days ago
- Sport
- CAF
Nigeria, South Africa unite to visit Salgado after horror injury
A lot can happen in 24 hours. And such is life. For South African defender Gabriela Salgado, the semifinal between the reigning African champions Banyana Banyana and nine-time continental winners at the ongoing TotalEnergies WAFCON 2024 was an exciting opportunity for her to showcase her expertise. On Monday, July 21, Salgado had showed up for the pre-match press conference in high spirits, answered every question asked by the South African, Nigerian and international media at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. Her vibrant energy was felt throughout the packed press conference room ahead of what has been established as the biggest rivalry in Women's Football in Africa. She spoke with excitement and promised to make South Africa proud. She continuously spoke with positivity pointing at her teammates' togetherness throughout the tournament and what it means for her to finally feature at Africa's biggest showpiece. The 28-year-old, who features for JVW in the South African topflight league, had previously missed out on representing her nation at the WAFCON 2022 in Morocco after she sustained an almost career-ending injury in the week leading up to the tournament. Her presence at the current edition where she started on the bench for Banyana Banyana in their opening two games before earning her spot in the starting lineup speaks to her resilience and never-give-up attitude. 'We know we're going into the semifinal game, it's going to be a challenge, but we are physically and mentally prepared. We know the responsibility we hold, and we just look forward to a good game and hopefully finishing it within the 90 minutes,' Salgado had said prior to the match. Until Salgado's injury, the tie was at 1-1 after an Ajibade penalty opened the scoring for Nigeria before South Africa equalized through a Linda Motlhalo penalty. 'Every game that we play we take our lessons, and we obviously take it into the next game and improving what we learned from that game. Just going into this game, I think the Senegal game of course brought us together as a team, we saw the desire, the hunger in each other's eyes and it brought us just closer together knowing how we'll need each other going into the next game. I think the team is prepared, we're ready, we know what we have to do, and I think everyone is just on the same page and we are excited for the game.' This excitement could be seen when Salgado and her teammates stepped off the bus and sang their way to the away dressing room – full of energy and ready to face the mountain in front of them that was Nigeria. But as fate would have it, Salgado suffered a horrific injury. The reaction of both sets of players alerted those watching the game inside the Larbi Zaouli Stadium and across the world. Hands on their heads, some in tears, others with their heads to the grass and some took to the technical benches for comfort. The South African Football Association (SAFA) has released a statement with the Banyana Banyana doctor Lindi Mokoena saying, 'Gabi [Salgado] 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. We were fully confident and comfortable with the procedure being 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.' Ramaphosa Message of Support South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a message of support to Salgado saying, 'Today, our thoughts are with Banyana Banyana's @G_Salgado9 as we wish Gabriela a comfortable and speedy recovery from her traumatic injury in last night's WAFCON semi-final against a victorious Nigeria. I know you're a woman of deep and public faith, Gabriela, and you're a woman of bravery and skill on the pitch. The nation wishes you well. Casablanca was always going to be a tough ask for our national team as Africa's defending champions and Nigeria's breakthrough in referee's optional proved this. We are confident Banyana Banyana will regroup and return to WAFCON as future champs. We wish Nigeria's Super Falcons and Morocco's Atlas Lionesses well for Saturday's dream home final for the host nation.' Today, our thoughts are with Banyana Banyana's @G_Salgado9 as we wish Gabriela a comfortable and speedy recovery from her traumatic injury in last night's WAFCON semi-final against a victorious Nigeria. I know you're a woman of deep and public faith, Gabriela, and you're a woman… — Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 23, 2025 Nigeria Super Falcons visit Salgado In pure show of class and sportswomanship, the Super Falcons of Nigeria showed up at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca to visit Salgado after sending messages to her on social media across several platforms. Fans across the world have praised this visit as a showcase of humanity and how football brings the world together. As the great icon of South Africa Nelson Mandela once said, 'Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.' Nigeria and South Africa have met a record 12 times at the WAFCON.
Daily Maverick
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Desiree Ellis announces her Banyana Banyana army ahead of Wafcon defence
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has announced a versatile 26-player team for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which begins on 5 July in Morocco. There was little surprise when Desiree Ellis announced her team for next month's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon). The longtime Banyana Banyana coach selected a team largely consisting of players who were present when South Africa made history by winning a maiden Wafcon title. Experienced campaigners such as midfield maestros Refiloe Jane and Linda Bambanani Mbane, goalkeepers Andile Dlamini and Kaylin Swart, as well as forwards Jermaine Seoposenswe and Hildah Magaia, will be the bedrock of the team. Seoponsenwe (who will retire from international soccer at the end of Wafcon) and Magaia will be particularly crucial in the absence of fellow sharpshooter Thembi Kgatlana. The former African footballer of the year has excused herself from national duty for 'personal reasons'. Versatility and depth In the past, Banyana Banyana have had to do without players for myriad reasons, from exams to visa issues and injuries. Ellis has made it her task to expand the team and expose several players to the demanding levels of international soccer. The coach says the 26-player squad she unveiled on Monday, 23 June is a representation of the versatility and fluidity she has tried to build during her tenure with the senior women's national team. 'Losing any player, and a player of Thembi's quality, is a huge loss. But in 2022, we had players step up when Thembi got injured, despite the country going into mourning [after the injury]. But we had planned and prepared for different scenarios,' said Ellis. 'Now it's an opportunity for someone else to step up. You don't want to lose your top players, but it is what it is. And we have to respect that, her personal reasons. I support her. We know she'll be back bigger and stronger,' said Ellis. Young prospects Kgatlana's absence has opened up a spot for the young players in the Banyana Banyana fold to step up. Teenagers such as JVW's Bonolo Mokoma and zippy winger Adrielle Mibe will be hungry to show what they can do in the absence of one of the continent's most lethal strikers. Another new face in the team is University of the Western Cape's Ronnel Donnelly. The 21-year-old striker has undoubtedly been included for physical presence against robust defenders. Young goalkeeper Casey Gordon and striker Nthabiseng Majiya will not travel with the squad, but will be on standby. 'It's never about age. We look at the leagues and see who is performing. We look at who adds value, because you can be performing, but we also look at the positions that we need certain players in. So, that will help us a lot,' Ellis said. 'There are a few new players in, but we've seen their quality and what they can add. Hopefully, they will step up because this is an opportunity for them to change their lives and make their dreams come true,' the coach said. Captain fantastic Ellis also announced that Jane will not captain the team alone at Wafcon. Instead, she will share the responsibility with co-captains, fellow midfielder Amogelang Motau, plus veteran defender Lebogang Ramalepe. Banyana's Jane recently made her return to international soccer after a year-long injury-enforced absence. The skipper last featured for South Africa in their 2024 Paris Olympics qualification clash against Nigeria, in April 2024. The midfield general — who is also back playing for TS Galaxy in South Africa after leaving Italian outfit Sassuolo last year — put in a solid shift against Botswana in May. The central midfielder says she is honoured to lead her country at another major tournament. 'It's been a long journey since I got injured, and I was sidelined for a few months. But with the work that we did behind the scenes, I had no doubt that I would recover in time [for Wafcon] … It wasn't easy, but I knew it was doable,' Jane told journalists. 'What's nice is that we have players who have been in the system and have learnt from [the senior players]… We just have to get the players to be on the same page and the ones with the experience to share [their knowledge] with the others,' the captain said on the balance of the team. Twelve teams qualified for the 2024 Wafcon, which will take place from 5 to 26 July 2025. Banyana are in Group C, where they will face tough tests against Ghana, Mali and Tanzania. DM Banyana Banyana Wafcon squad Goalkeepers: Kaylin Swart (JVW)Andile Dlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns)Dineo Magagula (TS Galaxy)Casey Gordon (JVW) Defenders: Lebohang Ramalepe (Mamelodi Sundowns)Fikile Magama (University of Western Cape)Gabriela Salgado (JVW)Tiisetso Makhubela (Mamelodi Sundowns)Bambanani Mbane (Mamelodi Sundowns)Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns)Lonathemba Mhlongo (University of Western Cape) Midfielders: Bongeka Gamede (Nodsjællend, Norway)Sibulele Holweni (University of Western Cape)Linda Motlhalo (Glasgow City, Scotland)Nonhlanhla Mthandi (Mamelodi Sundowns)Refiloe Jane (TS Galaxy)Amogelang Motau (Club Tijuana, Mexico)Regina Mogolola (JVW)Noxolo Cesane (Mamelodi Sundowns) Forwards: Adrielle Mibe (University of Johannesburg)Kgaelebane Mohlakoana (TP Mazembe, DR Congo)Hildah Magaia (Club Tijuana, Mexico)Jermaine Seoposenwe (CF Monterrey, Mexico)Ronnel Donnelly (University of Western Cape)Bonolo Mokoma (JVW)Nthabiseng Majiya (Mamelodi Sundowns)
