Fresh from winning the 2022 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in a dominant fashion – South Africa continues to make headlines.
Four players from the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana are part of the 11 Best players in the recently-ended three week-long tournament in Morocco.
Put together by the members of CAF’s Technical Study Group (TSG), the final list brings together the outstanding performance among the 12-nations that took part in the competition – South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Burundi, Botswana, Senegal, Tunisia, Zambia, Togo, Cameroon, Uganda and Burkina Faso.
It is no surprise that 2022 WAFCON Champions South Africa has the bulk of the players on the final list – four in total, followed by losing finalists and hosts Morocco with three, while semi-finalists Zambia and Nigeria have two each.
Banyana Banyana is the spine of the Best XI – with a goalkeeper, a defender, a midfielder and a striker.
Andile Dlamini, who was named the Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament, leads the South African delegation. She kept three clean sheets in all the six matches played – which Banyana Banyana won.
She is the only player that Desiree Ellis gave a chance to play every minute in Morocco, and was a leader on and off the pitch.
The defence is made up of four players.
South Africa’s Bambanane Mbane partners with Nigeria’s Osinachi Ohale in central defence, while Margaret Belemu of Zambia is at right back with Zineb Redouani of Morocco is on the opposite side.
A united nations midfield is marshalled by three captains who sit in front of the back four – Refiloe Jane of South Africa, Grace Chanda of Zambia and Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak.
“These players all bring a touch of class, an understanding of the game and passing abilities that have the power to change the course of and destine of a game. All three have been nicknamed the ‘conductors.’ They take charge and control the ball and make it do as they please. That mastery stood out all tournament – consistently,” said the TSG report.
Chebbak was also named the Player of the Tournament after finishing joint top scorer with three goals.
Banyana Banyana’s Jermaine Seoposenwe leads the line upfront, while Rasheedat Ajibade of Nigeria and Morocco’s Fatima Tagnaout operate on the wings to complete the 4-3-3 formation.
“Pace, quick decision-making and an eye for goal is what makes this trio special. With supply from the midfield maestros, scoring goals is as easy as pie. This 4-3-3 lineup would destroy any opposition in front of them and produce a memorable display of football,” concluded the TSG.
Dlamini, Ohale, Redouan, Jane, Ajibade, Chanda and Chebbak have shown some consistency as they were part of the players that made up the Best Group Stages Team alongside defender Lushomo Mweemba of Zambia, Samia Aouni of Morocco, Ajara of Cameroon and Botswana’s Refilwe Tholokale.
Ajibade finished the tournament with three goals, joining Chebbak and South Africa’s Hilda Magaia as the top goal scorers.
By Matlhomola Morake
