University of Pretoria Head Coach Maud Khumalo has named a strong squad of 21 Banyana Banyana players for the upcoming COSAFA Women’s Championship, which will take place in Gqebhera from 22 October to 2 November 2024.
Herself a former South African Senior Women’s National team player, she takes care of the team in the absence of coach Desiree Ellis who will be travelling to Denmark and England with a different squad for two international friendly matches during the same period (25 and 29 October respectively).
“I am honoured to be taking up this role as COSAFA is a really great tournament for our players. We are blessed to have the quality of players we have, but it will be important that we work on how to play as a unit, because many of them are playing against each other week in and out in the Hollywoodbets Super League,” Khumalo told SAFA.net after the squad announcement.
“We saw the draw for the COSAFA Championships and are looking forward to having a great tournament, as players will be looking to raise their hand for selection next year.”
Khumalo has gone for experience with most of the players having played in the U17 and U20 Women’s National teams.
Five of the selected players were part of the 2023 squad in the same tournament – Asanda Hadebe, Thalea Smidt, Tshogofatso Motlogelwa, Ayesha Moosa and Samkelisiwe Selana.
In addition, she has picked players who have been in great form for their clubs, the likes of Kesha Hendricks from the University of Fort Hare, who is among the top goal scorers on 12 strikes as well as JVW’s Tanna Hollis who has nine goals.
Goalkeeper Jessica Williams of Badgers FC in Cape Town is the only player selected from the Sasol league – but she comes with wealth of experience as she has been in the Banyana Banyana squad before and has also played for TUT Ladies.
In goals, Matshidiso Masebe is top of the charts when it comes to clean sheets – with 13 to her name.
Fourteen (14) of the selected players are in the top 8 teams in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
University of Johannesburg defender Yolanda Nduli played at the 2018 FIFA Women’s U17 World Cup in Uruguay under the tutelage of Simphiwe Dludlu
The Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group A alongside Namibia, Eswatini and newcomers, the Seychelles.
This year’s tournament has the biggest pool with a record entries of all 14 COSAFA region teams participating.
Defending champions Malawi will go toe to toe with Botswana, Madagascar and Mauritius in Group B, with 2022 winners Zambia have been drawn in Group C together with Angola and Comoros. Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho are in Group D.
Only the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals.
South Africa has won the tournament a record seven times (2002, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) and will be under pressure to do well this year after failing to get out of the group in 2023. They last lifted the trophy in 2020.
The other nations to have claimed victory in this competition are Zimbabwe (2011), Tanzania (2021), Zambia (2022) and Malawi (2023) the other teams to lift the trophy.
COSAFA WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP 2024:
Banyana Banyana SQUAD:
| NAME & SURNAME | POS | CLUB | LOCATION |
| 1. Jessica WILLIAMS | GK | Badgers FC (Sasol League) | Cape Town |
| 2. Matshidiso MAESEBE | GK | University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg |
| 3. Nokuphumula MPATSIYANA | GK | University of Fort Hare FC | Alice |
| 4. Sikelelwa MHLANGA | DF | City Lads Ladies | Port Elizabeth |
| 5. Ntando PHAHLA | DF | University of Pretoria (Tuks) FC | Pretoria |
| 6. Asanda HADEBE | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC | Pretoria |
| 7. Khutso PILA | DF | University of Pretoria (Tuks) FC | Pretoria |
| 8. Shannon MACOMO | DF | University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg |
| 9. Yolanda NDULI | DF | University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg |
| 10. Ayesha MOOSA | MF | University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg |
| 11. Sinamile MKHWANAZI | MF | University of Pretoria (Tuks) FC | Pretoria |
| 12. Isabella LUDWIG | MF | University of Pretoria (Tuks) FC | Pretoria |
| 13. Sibongile NTOANE | MF | TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies FC | Pretoria |
| 14. Thalea SMIDT | MF | University of Pretoria (Tuks) FC | Pretoria |
| 15. Mmabatho MOGALE | MF | JVW FC | Johannesburg |
| 16. Tshogofatso MOTLOGELWA | MF | TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies FC | Pretoria |
| 17. Gugu DLAMINI | MF | University of Johannesburg | Johannesburg |
| 18. Kesha HENDRICKS | MF | University of Fort Hare FC | Alice |
| 19. Samkelisiwe SELANA | FW | TS Galaxy Queens FC | Pretoria |
| 20. Tanna HOLLIS | FW | JVW FC | Johannesburg |
| 21. Nobahle MDELWA | FW | Lindelani Ladies FC | KwaZulu Natal |
By Matlhomola Morake
