The Sasol-sponsored Banyana will be without the influential Jermaine Seoposenwe as well as forward Wendy Shongwe for the away leg of the 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup Of Nations qualifier (WAFCON) against Burkina Faso.
In a statement, the South African Football Association (SAFA) said the Mexico-based forward will only join the squad for the return leg, while Shongwe, who runs out for the University of Pretoria, has been withdrawn from the squad due to an illness in the family.
Shongwe’s place has been taken by Ayesha Moosa from the University of Johannesburg in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
Banyana Banyana face the West Africans on Thursday, 30 November at Stade Charles Konan Banny in Cote d’Ivoire due to Burkina Faso not having a suitable field for their matches.
The reverse fixture will be played on Monday, 4 December 2023 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
Kickoff is at 15h00 and tickets are retailing for R20 each.
The African Champions departed South Africa on Monday morning (27 November) and have safely arrived at their destination in Abidjan, where they held their first training session on Tuesday – joined by the trio of Noko Matlou (Spain), Faith Nokuthula (England) and Linda Motlhalo (Scotland) who were the last to report for national team duty.
They have the last training routine on Wednesday before the all-important clash on Thursday.
Moosa is one the rising stars in women’s football and featured prominently for Banyana Banyana in the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women’s Championship held recently in South Africa. Other youngsters in the squad in Cote d’Ivoire include the TS Galaxy Queens duo of Nicole Michael and Samkelisiwe Selana, as well as defender Asanda Hadebe who plays for Sunflower WFC in the Sasol League.
Seoposenwe will join her compatriots on Friday (1 December) when they land from West Africa to be available for selection in the return leg.
The two matches against Burkina Faso will be the last assignment for Banyana Banyana in 2023. So far, they played 16 – winning six, losing seven and drawing three.
The games will also serve as a farewell to long-serving defender Janine van Wyk, who has retired from football after playing her last club match on Sunday, 26 November for JVW in the Hollywoodbets in a 2-1 win over UJ Ladies.
When she runs out for Banyana Banyana in the return leg, she will become the most-capped footballer on the continent – female or male – with 185 caps, breaking the 11-year old record currently held by Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan who has already retired from the game.
BANYANA BANYANA SQUAD 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, Ayesha Moosa, Hildah Magaia, Thembi Kgatlana, Samkelisiwe Selana, Jermaine Seoposenwe.
BANYANA BANYANA MATCHES IN 2023:
| OPPONENT | RESULT | DATE | TYPE | NAME |
| 1. Uzbekistan | 3 – 0 (L) | 18 Feb | Friendly | Turkish Women’s Cup |
| 2. Slovenia | 1 – 1 (D) | 21 Feb | Friendly | Turkish Women’s Cup |
| 3. Serbia | 2 – 3 (L) | 10 April | Friendly | |
| 4. Botswana | 0 – 5 (L) | 2 April | Friendly | |
| 5. Costa Rica | 2 – 0 (W) | 15 July | Friendly | |
| 6. Sweden | 2 – 3 (L) | 23 July | Competition | FWWC |
| 7. Argentina | 2 – 2 (D) | 28 July | Competition | FWWC |
| 8. Italy | 3 – 2 (W) | 2 August | Competition | FWWC |
| 9. Netherlands | 0 – 2 (L) | 6 August | Competition | FWWC |
| 10. USA | 0 – 3 (L) | 22 September | Friendly | |
| 11. USA | 0 – 2 (L) | 24 September | Friendly | |
| 12. Malawi | 3 – 4 (L) | 4 October | Competition | COSAFA |
| 13. Madagascar | 3 – 1 (W) | 7 October | Competition | COSAFA |
| 14. Eswatini | 3 – 0 (W) | 10 October | Competition | COSAFA |
| 15. DR Congo | 1 – 1 (D) | 25 October | Competition | CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier |
| 16. DR Congo | 2 – 0 (W) | 30 October | Competition | CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifier |
| 17. Burkina Faso | STILL TO COME | 30 November | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
| 18. Burkina Faso | STILL TO COME | 30 November | Competition | WAFCON Qualifier |
By Matlhomola Morake
