Banyana Banyana defender Janine van Wyk has been named as one of the draw assistants for the CAF Women’s Champions League draw.
The event will take place on Monday, 9 October 2023 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
One of the most decorated women football players on the African continent, Van Wyk has represented South Africa at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, as well as at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, making history to become the first player to captain the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana at the tournament.
Van Wyk was also part of the all-conquering squad that lifted the 2022 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco – their maiden title.
She has made 183 appearances for her country – the most by any female footballer on the continent, but second to Egypt’s Ahmed Hassan who is on 184.
At club level, she has been on the books of Houston Dash in the USA, Fortuna Hjorring in Denmark, Glasgow City in Scotland – where she won the league title – and more recently Ergotelis in Greece, before returning home to JVW in the Hollywoodbets Super League.
“Without doubt, it is a real privilege to be part of this prestigious and highly-anticipated draw, and to be called one of Africa’s legends… leaves me speechless, I never thought in a million years I would be titled that, I really feel honoured. I am looking forward to being part of the third edition of this event and to also find inspiration of seeing JVW play in this tournament some day, or even for myself to coach at this level,” said Van Wyk, who arrived in Abidjan on Sunday afternoon (8 October 2023).
“To our Sundowns Ladies – being one of only two teams to have been crowned champions of this competition is a great achievement. I wish them nothing but the best and I know they have the capabilities to do it again.”
The South African will be alongside one of the legends of women’s football in Cote d’Ivoire, Fernande Tchetche.
The defender played in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, as well as in the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations of the same year.
The CAF Women’s Champions League is Africa’s premium women’s club continental football. It features champions from CAF’s six Zones, the host nation and a team.
The eight teams going into the hat are reigning champions AS FAR of Morocco, 2021 winners Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies (South Africa), hosts Athlético Abidjan – Côte d’Ivoire, SC Casablanca (Morocco), AS Mandé (Mali), Ampem Darkoa (Ghana), JKT Queens (Tanzania) and Huracanes (Equatorial Guinea).
The draw will be live on CAF’s website CAFONLINE.com, and CAF TV (YouTube) at 16h00 GMT (18h00 CAT, 19h00 East Africa Time).
The third edition of this prestigious African women’s club competition is set to take place in the Elephants’ country (Côte d’Ivoire) from 05 to 19 November 2023.
This is the first time that CAF’s elite club competition is hosted in West Africa.
By Matlhomola Morake
