Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana have secured a high profile international friendly match against England, which will be played on Tuesday, 29 October 2024. The clash will take place at the Building Society Arena, the home of Coventry City in England.
Kickoff is at 20h45 South African time.
“After the two away international friendly matches against Senegal in June (1-1 and 2-0), this is a great opportunity for us as we continue with our preparations for WAFCON. It gives us time to really prepare well for this challenge to defend our WAFCON title,” Banyana Banyana Head Coach Desiree Ellis told SAFA.net.
“I’m also excited that the challenge of facing England, the European champions, will test us in a different way. We hope our fans in the UK will come out in numbers to support us. Lastly, a very big thank you to both SAFA and Sasol for their unwavering support and in getting us this top nation to test us as we continue with our preparations to defend our title in the WAFCON.”
This will be the third match between the two nations in an encounter that pits the African Champions vs the European Champions.
The previous matches went England’s way, with the first one ending in a 6-0 drubbing in 2009 (5 March) with the likes of Simphiwe Dludlu, Nompumelelo Nyandeni, Busisiwe Ndimeni, Noko Matlou and Janine van Wyk all part of the squad. England went on to win that edition of the Cyprus Women’s Cup.
A year later (24 February) in the same competition, South Africa suffered a narrow 1-0 loss.
Desiree Ellis’ charges won the continental title in 2022 when they defeated hosts Morocco 2-1 in a pulsating final. In the same year, England were crowned UEFA Women’s EURO champions following a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory against Germany.
This was a maiden continental trophy for both countries.
“It is a great opportunity for us as African champions to play against the European champions as a stage for our players to showcase how far we’ve developed as a nation. Playing in front of a large South African and African expat community living in England will give coach Desiree and the girls an extra gear to get a good result,” said SAFA CEO Lydia Monyepao.
Excluding the COSAFA Women’s Championship scheduled for Gqeberha later this year, the England fixture will be Banyana Banyana’s seventh match of the year.
They played against Tanzania and Nigeria in home and away matches in the Paris 2024 Olympic qualifiers in February and April respectively, before facing Senegal in June in two international friendlies away.
“We are thrilled to support SASOL Banyana Banyana as they prepare to face England in this upcoming friendly. This match will present an excellent opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategies and skills for the 2024 WAFCON tournament. We believe that they will use the power of sport to inspire and unite South Africans, and on behalf of Sasol, we wish them all the best,” added Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand & Sponsorships: Sasol.
South Africa’s England fixture is part of a series of matches lined up by the Lionesses.
First up will be the mouth-watering face-off against Germany – a rematch of the UEFA EURO 2022 final – to be played on Friday, 25 October at Wembley Stadium, followed by Banyana Banyana four days later in Coventry.
England will then take on the USA on Saturday, 30 November before closing off the year with match-up against UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 hosts Switzerland on Tuesday, 3 December at Bramall Lane, the home of Sheffield United.
“With the current UEFA Women’s Nations League format, the opportunities to play friendlies are limited. Therefore, I’m really pleased that we’ve been able to carefully select our opponents and give ourselves four very different and difficult challenges to aid our preparation. Each nation has a different style of play, a variety of strengths and that will test us in different ways,” said England Head Coach Sarina Wiegman in a statement.
By Matlhomola Morake
