The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will feature 32 for the first ever, and will be hosted in two countries – Australia and New Zealand, also a first.
Several nations going to the prestigious tournament, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand next month (20 July to 20 August), have already named their squads – some final, others preliminary.
Among them are the defending champions, USA, England, France, Japan, Morocco, Germany, Sweden, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Canada, Republic of Ireland, Australia, Nigeria, Spain, Portugal, Vietnam, South Africa, Norway, Philippines and Zambia.
The likes of China, Denmark, New Zealand, Brazil, Jamaica, Panama, Argentina, Italy, Colombia, South Korea, Switzerland and Haiti are yet to make any moves in that regard.
On Friday (23 June 2023), head coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, will reveal the final squad of 23 players that will represent South Africa global women’s football showpiece – their second in a row.
The announcement comes exactly a month before the African Champions take to the field for their first match against Sweden in New Zealand.
“It’s one of the most difficult selections I have had to make, just to get to 36 from thousands of good players out there was hard enough – unfortunately we can only take 23 with us and will have to break hearts and put an end to someone’s dream. We have to make sure that we replicate what we did at WAFCON, and choose a squad for every eventuality, have enough cover in all departments and in the end have the right personnel in the way we want to play,” Ellis told the media.
“So it is going to be emotional, not just for me but for the players as well who will see their dream of going to World Cup being shattered in an instant. We have a psychologist to help those players out because no matter how I say it, I am putting a pause to someone’s dream – and that is the most difficult thing, but it has to be done. That is why I didn’t want to make the decision too early, so I could have another look and make sure that we have every base covered and given the players enough opportunity to stake their claim in the final squad.”
The event is set to take place at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential guesthouse in Pretoria where the Minister of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Zizi Kodwa, will be in attendance as he will also be hosting the squad in a send-off gala dinner. Also present will be various Ministers and MECs for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
South Africa, along with Nigeria, Zambia and Morocco are the four African representatives at the World Cup, with the latter two making their debut.
Just over two weeks ago (5 June 2023), Ellis named a preliminary squad of 36 players, and started a training camp on Monday, 12 June.
There are already nine changes from the squad that participated in Banyana Banyana’s maiden World Cup in France four years ago – with the likes of Mapaseka Mpuru, Nothando Vilakazi, Janine van Wyk, Leandra Smeda, Busisiwe Ndimeni, Mamello Makhabane, Rhoda Mulaudzi, Amanda Mthandi and Ode Fulutudilu, all missing out this time around.
The survivors from 2019 spectacle are: Andile Dlamini (GK), Kaylin Swart (GK), Lebohang Ramalepe, Noko Matlou, Bambanani Mbane, Bongeka Gamede, Tiisetso Makhubela, Refiloe Jane, Karabo Dhlamini, Kholosa Biyana, Sibulele Holweni, Linda Motlhalo, Thembi Kgatlana and Jermaine Seoposenwe.
But they will have to wait anxiously for Friday evening to know if they have secured tickets to their back to back tournaments.
BANYANA BANYANA SQUAD FOR 2019 FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Head Coach: Desiree Ellis
GOALKEEPERS:
| 16. Andile Dlamini | |
| 20. Kaylin Swart | |
| 1. Mapaseka Mpuru |
DEFENDERS:
| 2. Lebohang Ramalepe |
| 3. Nothando Vilakazi |
| 4. Noko Matlou 152 |
| 5. Janine Van Wyk |
| 13. Bambanani Mbane |
| 23. Bongeka Gamede |
| 14. Tiisetso Makhubela |
MIDFIELDERS:
| 15. Refiloe Jane |
| 6. Mamello Makhabane |
| 7. Karabo Dhlamini |
| 17. Leandra Smeda |
| 19. Kholosa Biyana |
| 18. Busisiwe Ndimeni |
| 21. Sibulele Holweni |
| 10. Linda Motlhalo |
FORWARDS:
| 22. Rhoda Mulaudzi |
| 11. Thembi Kgatlana |
| 12. Jermaine Seoposenwe |
| 9. Amanda Mthandi |
| 8. Ode Fulutudilu |
Among the 36 named in the preliminary squad, Ellis has retained all but one player from the all-conquering 2022 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations – with co-captain Janine van Wyk the only one not in the squad.
New faces that were not part of the WAFCON team, but have high hopes to have made a good impression on the Banyana Banyana technical team are:
GOALKEEPERS: Kebotseng Moletsane, Asa Rabalao
DEFENDERS: Asanda Hadebe, Fikile Magama, Cimone Sauls, Tiisetso Makhubela, Lonathemba Mhlongo
MIDFIELDERS: Thubelihle Shamase
FORWARDS: Nicole Michael, Gabriela Salgado, Sphumelele Shamase, Wendy Shongwe, Ntombifikile Ndlovu
Banyana Banyana squad for 2022 WAFCON:
Head Coach: Desiree Ellis
NAME AND SURNAME | POSITION |
| 1. ANDILE DLAMINI | GK |
| 2. KAYLIN SWART | GK |
| 3. REGIRL NGOBENI | GK |
| 4. KARABO DHLAMINI | DF |
| 5. LEBOHANG RAMALEPE | DF |
| 6. JANINE VAN WYK | DF |
| 7. BAMBANANI MBANE | DF |
| 8. BONGEKA GAMEDE | DF |
| 9. NOKO MATLOU | DF |
| 10. REFILOE JANE | MF |
| 11. NOMVULA KGOALE | MF |
| 12. LINDA MOTLHALO | MF |
| 13. THALEA SMIDT | MF |
| 14. KHOLOSA BIYANA | MF |
| 15. AMOGELANG MOTAU | MF |
| 16. ROBYN MOODALY | MF |
| 17. SIBULELE HOLWENI | MF |
| 18. JERMAINE SEOPOSENWE | FW |
| 19. MELINDA KGADIETE | FW |
| 20. NOXOLO CESANE | FW |
| 21. NTHABISENG MAJIYA | FW |
| 22. THEMBI KGATLANA | FW |
| 23. HILDAH MAGAIA | FW |
| STANDY PLAYERS: | |
| 4. KEBOTSENG MOLETSANE | GK |
| 10. TIISETSO MAKHUBELA | DF |
| 25. THUBELIHLE SHAMASE | MF |
The FIFA Women’s World Cup started off as a 12-team tournament in 1991, and grew to 16 nations at the 1999 edition in the USA. At the 2015 event in Canada, there were already 24 teams participating, now Australia and New Zealand will host the biggest ever with 32 teams.
The USA are the defending champions following back to back wins in 2015 and 2019 – they will be hoping to make it third time lucky in 2023, becoming the first ever nation to claim three FIFA World Cup titles in a row – in either the women’s or the men’s game.
By Matlhomola Morake
