Latest news with #Women'sAfricaCupofNations
Eyewitness News
10 hours 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
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Sport
- Ya Biladi
Morocco to host Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 : Full schedule and key matches revealed
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled the official schedule for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2024) on Friday. The tournament will take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26. The opening match will feature the host nation against Zambia (Group A) on Saturday, July 5, at 9:00 PM local time at the brand-new Rabat Olympic Stadium, according to a CAF statement. The following day, three matches are scheduled, including the highly anticipated clash between Nigeria—the most successful nation in African women's football—and Tunisia, the statement adds. Morocco's second group match is set for Wednesday, July 9, at 8:00 PM against Congo, followed by a game against Senegal on July 12 at 8:00 PM. Group B includes Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana, while Group C features South Africa, Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania. The semifinals will be held on Tuesday, July 22, with the final scheduled for Saturday, July 26, at 9:00 PM, again at the Rabat Olympic Stadium. Building on the success of previous editions, the Women's CAN Morocco 2024 reflects the rapid growth of CAF competitions over the past four years. Records are expected in stadium attendance, global television audiences, and digital engagement, CAF said. To meet the highest international standards, CAF will use cutting-edge technology to deliver live, high-definition broadcasts of all 26 matches to a global audience via its television partners. Last Tuesday, CAF announced the six stadiums that will host the tournament's matches: Larbi Zaouli and Père Jégo Stadiums in Casablanca, the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia, Honor Stadium in Oujda, and the Municipal Stadium in Berkane.
SowetanLIVE
5 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.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Banyana Banyana survive Botswana scare in five-goal thriller
Gabriela Salgado Banyana's Gabriela Salgado clears the ball away from Botswana's Senwelo Leungo in Atteridgeville on Wednesday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Banyana Banyana kicked off their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) preparations with a gritty 3-2 triumph over Botswana in the Three Nations Challenge opener at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Wednesday. Early strikes from Jermaine Seopesenwe and Adrielle Mibe handed South Africa a dream start in the tri-nation series, which also includes Zambia. But Botswana battled back with a goal in each half to keep the contest alive. South Africa, eyes set on continental glory once again and with the Wafcon just weeks away, Banyana used their Challenge clash against Botswana to sharpen their blades – and they cut deep. Having barely unpacked their bags from a double triumph over Malawi last month, Desiree Ellis' side wasted no time finding their rhythm. Despite limited time in camp, the chemistry returned like an old song – smooth and dangerous. It wasn't long before the tempo rose, the passes flowed, and the intent was that of a team looking to hit the ground running. Back from injury, Refiloe Jane wore the armband like a crown, and wasted no time reminding the field of her class. Her pinpoint diagonal pass found Seopesenwe lurking, and though defender Kesegofetse Mochawe scrambled the danger away, the writing was already on the wall. From the resulting throw-in, Amogelang Masego turned sharply inside the box, setting up Seopesenwe for a powerful shot that was parried by keeper Sedilame Bosija. But the ball went only as far as Mibe, who pounced with the hunger of a lioness, and South Africa were on the board in the 13th minute. Botswana, still reeling, was caught napping minutes later. Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart launched a ball from deep, and Kgaelebane Mohlokoana played through Seopesenwe, who showed grace and poise to take it down with a silky touch before firing past the on-rushing keeper Bosija, and Banyana were 2-0 up in the 17th minute. Their last meeting between the two sides had been a cagey 1-0 win for South Africa during the 2022 Wafcon, but this time, the gap in class was widening. Botswana, desperate for a turnaround, saw their attempt to build from the back turn disastrous when Lone Gaofetoge's misplaced pass fell to the feet of a prowling Seopesenwe, who, with eyes set and locked in on target, rolled it past the keeper for South Africa's third goal of the match. Though down, Botswana were not yet out. With five minutes to halftime, Bosija combined with Radiakanyo Duduetsang, who stepped up with a thunderbolt from distance, catching Swart off her line and giving the visitors a flicker of hope with a stunning strike to go into the halftime break at 3-1. The visitors had found a new spur of energy and began the second half better than they did the first. They would soon be rewarded for their patience, with Phenyoyaone Moloi ensuring a tense finish to the match with her 63rd-minute strike pulling the visitors back within one of South Africa's lead. But it wasn't to be as Banyana were able to hang on for the win.
