Head Coach of the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, will be pleased to see the return of two key players, captain and midfielder Refiloe Jane as well as defender Bambanani Mbane.
Both players have been named in the preliminary squad of 30 players that is still to be trimmed down to 23 ahead of the crucial fourth and final round CAF Women’s Olympic qualifiers against bitter rivals Nigeria next month – between 1-9 April 2024.
Italy-based Jane last played for her country in July last year in a 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup clash against Argentina in Dunedin, New Zealand.
After several months on the sidelines nursing the injury sustained in that match, she was called up last month for the third round Olympic Games match-up against Tanzania, but subsequently withdrawn from the squad.
Mbane hasn’t seen national team action since her injury also at the World Cup in the last match against the Netherlands in the Round of 16 played in August in Australia.
Following a lengthy rehabilitation, she was recently on the bench for her team Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies in a Hollywoodbets Super League tie against Royal AM but was not used.
Also making a return is the University of the Western Cape duo of defender Bongeka Gamede and midfielder Sibulele Holweni who missed the Olympic qualifiers against DR Congo and Tanzania, as well as the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers vs Burkina Faso.
Mbane and Gamede formed a solid partnership at the World Cup, and their presence will be a welcome relief for Ellis ahead of a difficult encounter after the pair made a formidable partnership at the World Cup.
Mexico-based Sinoxolo Cesane, who recently returned to action after recovering from an injury sustained in the Mexican league, has also been called up, alongside Sundowns Ladies’ Nonhlanhla Mthandi – the latter getting a call up after a long absence in the national team.
But the African Champions will be forced to made changes in the middle of the park as they will be without the injured tough-as-teak defensive midfielder Kholosa Biyana of Sundowns Ladies, as well as forward Wendy Shongwe, who has been doubling up as a defender in recent Banyana Banyana matches.
The squad will go into a training camp on Monday, 25 March 2024 in Johannesburg.
After receiving a bye in the first round of the qualifiers, South Africa brushed aside DR Congo in the second round, before knocking out Tanzania in the third round to set up a much-anticipated fourth round clash with the Super Falcons of Nigeria – their biggest test in the competition.
The winners will book their tickets to Paris for the Olympic Games scheduled to be held from 25 July to 10 August.
Only two countries will represent the continent at the event.
By Matlhomola Morake
