After three energy-sapping matches in the group stages of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana believe there is still a lot more energy left in their tank to tackle the Netherlands, whom they face in the Round of 16.
The clash takes place at the Sydney Football Stadium in Australia with a kick-off time of 04:00 (South African time).
The African Champions have again made history in a space of just over a year.
For the first time ever, Banyana Banyana lifted the elusive CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in 2022.
But they were not done yet.
They came to Australia and New Zealand as underdogs and managed to rewrite the history books when they qualified for the next round of competition.
Banyana Banyana did it the hard way – which perhaps makes it sweeter.
In their opening of the competition they took the lead against the much-fancied third-ranked Sweden before letting it slip in the second half and conceding two goals.
Against Argentina in their second fixture, they led 2-0 only to share the spoils with the South Americans, but earned their first point in a FIFA World Cup after five matches.
Italy, the third match of the group stages, became a win-or-bust affair and South Africa came out with guns blazing to win 3-2 and book their ticket into the second round of competition.
Now they find themselves in unchartered territory and will be up against the Netherlands who finished top of Group E, ahead of defending champions the USA.
“I think we are definitely a lot more focused now because the situation is win or go home. I believe there’s a lot more energy left in us, and the Round of 16 kind of dictates that you must bring more energy, more focus into the match – anything can happen and that’s football,” said forward Jermaine Seoposenwe.
“We had to go through the tough schedule getting to this position, but so did the Netherlands. So, the team will be fresh, and we will set up in a kind of way that we observe energy but also find a balance because this is like a final and we have to give everything we have left in the tank.”
Her sentiments were echoed by head coach Desiree Ellis, who added that at this level of competition, especially in this round, no one needs motivation.
“Not at all, I don’t need to push them. You can see their focus from training, and they also know it’s another final for us because you cannot think beyond this point – it is not about three points but just by getting through. When we came here, we said we wanted to get out of the group stages, and we have done that – now the sky is the limit, we are living the impossible because nobody gave us a chance. But this group of players has shown through all adversity and all the challenges that they can continuously rise and rise, and I foresee them rising again,” said Ellis.
South Africa will be without the services of captain Refiloe Jane who got injured in the clash against Argentina and missed the Italy fixture.
Thembi Kgatlana is expected to lead the team.
In the quarterfinals, the winner between South Africa and the Netherlands will face the victorious side in the clash between Spain and Norway.
(CentreCircle.online is at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand courtesy of Sasol, proud sponsors of Banyana Banyana)
