The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will be playing their final match of the year – the 18th in 2023 – which is perhaps be one of their most important games to date.
The African Champions will face Burkina Faso in a 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Monday, 4 December.
Kickoff is at 15h00.
This will be the third meeting between the two sides – with the latest as recent as Thursday, 30 November 2023 in Cote d’Ivoire where they shared the spoils in a 1-all stalemate in the first leg of the 2024 WAFCON qualifier.
With the match precariously poised, but the defending champions holding the advantage of an away goal rule, the home side will have to tread carefully, however, as the West Africans have shown they can be dangerous if left unchecked.
In the first meeting, back in 2017, Banyana Banyana won 4-0.
Desiree Ellis will welcome Jermaine Seoposenwe back in the squad after she missed the away leg – and with goals in dire need, the Mexico-based forward may be thrust into the starting line-up to rekindle the trusted World Cup attack that included Thembi Kgatlana and Hilda Magaia.
There is also the matter of Janine van Wyk who will be bidding farewell to Banyana Banyana as a player who will be hanging up her boots at the final whistle of this qualifier.
She has already officially retired from club football.
Van Wyk needs only one cap to break an 11-year old record of the most capped footballer on the continent – female or male. She is currently sitting on 184, level with the record holder, Ahmed Hassan of Egypt.
In Cote d’Ivoire, Ellis had the defender in the starting 11, where she lasted 39 minutes before she was replaced by Kholosa Biyana – it is not clear if the three-time CAF Women Coach of the Year will follow the same route.
The winner of the Banyana Banyana vs Burkina clash will book their place at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with South Africa hoping to be the ones to advance as they want to defend their title.
Ellis will have another nice headache in picking her match-day squad as she has a clean bill of health, with all players available for selection.
BANYANA BANYANA SQUAD LIST vs BURKINA FASO
GOALKEEPERS:
Andile Dlamini, Kaylin Swart, Katlego Moletsane
DEFENDERS:
Karabo Dhlamini, Fikile Magama, Janine van Wyk, Faith Nokuthula, Asanda Hadebe, Noko Matlou, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Lebohang Ramalepe
MIDFIELDERS:
Linda Motlhalo, Kholosa Biyana, Sphumelele Shamase , Amogelang Matlou, Thubelihle Shamase
FORWARDS:
Nicole Michael, Gabriela Salgado, Noxolo Cesane, Hildah Magaia, Thembi Kgatlana, Samkelisiwe Selana, Jermaine Seoposenwe.
BANYANA BANYANA MATCHES IN 2023:
| OPPONENT | RESULT | DATE | TYPE | NAME |
| Uzbekistan | 3 – 0 (L) | 18 Feb | Friendly | Turkish Women’s Cup |
| Slovenia | 1 – 1 (D) | 21 Feb | Friendly | Turkish Women’s Cup |
| Serbia | 2 – 3 (L) | 10 April | Friendly | |
| Botswana | 0 – 5 (L) | 2 April | Friendly | |
| Costa Rica | 2 – 0 (W) | 15 July | Friendly | |
| Sweden | 2 – 3 (L) | 23 July | Competition | FWWC |
| Argentina | 2 – 2 (D) | 28 July | Competition | FWWC |
| Italy | 3 – 2 (W) | 2 August | Competition | FWWC |
| Netherlands | 0 – 2 (L) | 6 August | Competition | FWWC |
| USA | 0 – 3 (L) | 22 September | Friendly | |
| USA | 0 – 2 (L) | 24 September | Friendly | |
| Malawi | 3 – 4 (L) | 4 October | Competition | COSAFA |
| Madagascar | 3 – 1 (W) | 7 October | Competition | COSAFA |
| Eswatini | 3 – 0 (W) | 10 October | Competition | COSAFA |
| DR Congo | 1 – 1 (D) | 25 October | Competition | CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier |
| DR Congo | 2 – 0 (W) | 30 October | Competition | CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier |
| Burkina Faso | 1 – 1 (D) | 30 November | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
| Burkina Faso | STILL TO COME | 30 November | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
By Matlhomola Morake
