The South African women’s national soccer team, Banyana Banyana, are aiming to win the fourth African Women’s championship, but with inept preparations, a coach that will not be at their opening game and a national body that does not take women’s soccer seriously, there is little chance of the side being crowned queens of Africa.
On September 18 the South African Football Association will host the Fourth African Championship for Women’s Football. Players from eight countries will be playing for the love of the game and the pride and honour of their countries.Â
The teams that have confirmed their participation are defending champions Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mali and South Africa.
The lack of sponsorship for the women’s game means that the best female players on the continent will receive nothing but appreciation for their exceptional skills and talent in a sport worth billions.
Banyana Banyana will be hoping that their 10 years of experience will finally result in them winning this tournament. The only silverware the team has managed to win is the Confederation of the Southern African Football Associations Cup. The national team’s top goal scorer, Veronica Phewa, will be hoping to bang in a few more, while Portia Modise will be entertaining the crowd with her dribbling skills.
Banyana’s main rivals, Ghana and Nigeria, have been preparing for the tournament for more than two months — the South Africans began their preparations last week Friday and have yet to cut down the squad to the required 18 players. Besides these obstacles, they last played together in March against Nigeria.Â
While Banyana Banyana have been inactive, Nigeria have just returned from the Olympics were they made the quarterfinals.
Nigeria, who are the defending champions and three-time winners of this tournament, look as if they will continue their dominance.
South Africa are in Group A with Ghana, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, while Nigeria are in Group B with Cameroon, Mali and Algeria.
Meanwhile, the women’s under-19 South African team will be playing Nigeria away on September 19, where they will be trying to qualify for the Under-19 World Cup. The under-19s will be hoping they can do the unthinkable and become the first South African team to beat a Nigerian team.