Only one uncapped player named as Ellis announces final Banyana Banyana AWCON Squad

Head coach Desiree Ellis has announced the final Banyana Banyana squad of 23 players to represent South Africa at the 2022 Africa Women’s Cup of Nation scheduled for Morocco from 2-23 July.

The announcement was made on Monday, 20 June at SAFA House and the squad is expected to depart for North Africa on Tuesday, 21 June.

There is only now uncapped player in the team – Richmond United striker, Nthabiseng Majiya.

Called up the North African assignment are three (3) goalkeepers, six (6) defenders, eight (8) midfielders and six (6) forwards.

The bulk of the squad is made up of overseas-based players (9); five (5) from the 2021 Hollywoodbets Super League winners and African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, another five (5) from second-placed University of the Western Cape (UWC), three (3) from JVW FC and one (1) from Richmond United.

Overseas-based:

• Lebohang Ramalepe – Defender (Belarus)
• Noko Matlou – Defender (Spain)

• Refiloe Jane – Midfielder (Italy)
• Nomvula Kgoale – Midfielder (Spain)
• Linda Motlhalo – Midfielder (Sweden)
• Kholosa Biyana – Midfielder (Spain)

• Jermaine Seoposenwe – Forward (Portugal)
• Thembi Kgatlana – Forward (Spain)
• Hildah Magaia – Forward (South Korea)

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies:

• Andile Dlamini – Goalkeeper

• Karabo Dhlamini – Defender
• Bambanani Mbane -Defender
• Thalea Smidt – Midfielder
• Melinda Kgadiete – Forward

UWC:

• Regirl Ngobeni – Goalkeeper
• Bongeka Gamede – Defender

• Amogelang Motau – Midfielder
• Sibulele Holweni – Midfielder
• Noxolo Cesane – Forward

JVW:

• Kaylin Swart – Goalkeeper
• Janine Van Wyk – Defender
• Robyn Moodaly – Midfielder

Richmond United:

• Nthabiseng Majiya – Forward

Three standby players were also named:

1. Kebotseng Moletsane
2. Tiisetso Makhubela
3. Thubelihle Shamase

“When selecting this team we had to look at the versatility of the players – and we have that in abundance – because we play with different formations and we were looking for player who will fit into those formations with ease. I would like first of all congratulate all the players that made it after putting in a lot of where to be on the final list. But a big thank you must go to the coaches in the different leagues who do the most work with these players. In addition, I would like to convey my greatest gratitude to SAFA and our proud sponsors, Sasol for all the support they have given us. We will go out there and do our best,” said Ellis at announcement.

The Senior Women’s National Team mentor has kept some consistency in naming her squad to do duty in Morocco.

There are 11 survivors from 2018 in Ghana, when the last AWCON was played.

Kaylin Swart (GK)

Lebogang Ramalepe

Janine van Wyk (c)

Bambanani Mbane

Linda Motlhalo

Thembi Kgatlana

Melinda Kgadiete

Andile Dlamini (GK)

Noko Matlou

Jermaine Seoposenwe

Refiloe Jane

“Consistency is very key. We were there in 2018 and everyone knows how close we came. I have a strong belief in these players because I know they will give everything in this tournament. Also, working with this fantastic group of players is awesome and they are more mature. They have set the standards and they know what to expect,” added Ellis.

The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will kick off their campaign against Nigeria in Group C on the 4^th of July, followed by a clash against debutants Burundi three days later (July 7) and they round off their group stage matches with a fixture against neighbours Botswana.

The semi-finalists in the now expanded 12-nation event will qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“While we are eyeing a spot in the last four, we would be naïve to look that far at the start of the competition. The first game is always the most important as it sets the tone for the way ahead. Having said that, we will not underestimate any team. But to do well, we have to be together in this – have one vision” said Ellis.

“In short, we take it one game at a time, we don’t look too far ahead. We have built our small targets within the big target so we don’t lose sight of the main target because there could be potential banana skins for the World Cup, so we have to be extra careful not to get carried away.”

South Africa has been runners up five times in the tournament and are yet to lift the trophy. They lost on penalties to Nigeria in 2018, but Sasol is behind the team all the way.

“As a South African, I want them to bring the cup home and in the process secure a FIFA Women’s World Cup spot. We will be watching the team closely and follow every match. I would like to congratulate all the players who made it. We saw how hard these players worked during their campaign to qualify for this important tournament and we have a strong belief they will do well, so go out there and make us proud. All the best to the coach, the staff and the entire team,” said Nozipho Mbatha, Sasol Senior Manager: Group Brand and Sponsorship Manager.

The full Banyana Banyana squad to Morocco:

NAME AND SURNAME	POSITION	CLUB	PROVINCE
1. ANDILE DLAMINI	GK	MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC	GAUTENG
2. KAYLIN SWART	GK	JVW FC	GAUTENG
3. REGIRL NGOBENI	GK	UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE	WESTERN CAPE
4. KARABO DHLAMINI	DF	MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC	GAUTENG
5. LEBOHANG RAMALEPE	DF	DINAMO MINSK	BELARUS
6. JANINE VAN WYK	DF	JVW FC	GAUTENG
7. BAMBANANI MBANE	DF	MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC	GAUTENG
8. BONGEKA GAMEDE	DF	UNIVERSITY OF THE WESTERN CAPE	WESTERN CAPE
9. NOKO MATLOU	DF	SD EIBAR	SPAIN
10. REFILOE JANE	MF	AC MILAN	ITALY
11. NOMVULA KGOALE	MF	PARQUESDESOL CD	SPAIN
12. LINDA MOTLHALO	MF	DJUGARDENS	SWEDEN
13. THALEA SMIDT	MF	MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC	GAUTENG
14. KHOLOSA BIYANA	MF	SPORTING GIJON	SPAIN
15. AMOGELANG MOTAU	MF	UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE	WESTERN CAPE
16. ROBYN MOODALY	MF	JVW FC	GAUTENG
17. SIBULELE HOLWENI	MF	UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE	WESTERN CAPE
18. JERMAINE SEOPOSENWE	FW	SC BRAGA	PORTUGAL
19. MELINDA KGADIETE	FW	MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC	GAUTENG
20. NOXOLO CESANE	FW	UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN CAPE	WESTERN CAPE
21. NTHABISENG MAJIYA	FW	RICHMOND LADIES	NORTHERN CAPE
22. THEMBI KGATLANA	FW	ATHLETICO MADRID	SPAIN
23. HILDAH MAGAIA	FW	SEJONG SPORTSTOTO	SOUTH KOREA
STANDY PLAYERS:
4. KEBOTSENG MOLETSANE	GK	BLOEMFONTEIN CELTIC	FREE STATE
10. TIISETSO MAKHUBELA	DF	MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FC	GAUTENG
25. THUBELIHLE SHAMASE	MF	UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG	GAUTENG

By Matlhomola Morake