The South African Senior Women’s National Team (Banyana Banyana) returned home safely, after participating in the annual Cyprus Women’s Cup.
Banyana Banyana played four matches in the tournament, winning one and losing the other three, but head coach Vera Pauw is not fazed, but proud of how the team performed.
South Africa was drawn in Group C alongside Mexico, Belgium and the Czech Republic, and finished tenth after losing 1-2 to Finland.
After three months of no action – they last played in October last year in the CAF African Women’s Championships in Namibia – the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana was using the tournament to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers of the All Africa Games and Rio Olympics.
South Africa will again be in action on Friday, March 20 away to Botswana in the first leg qualifier. The kick-off is at 18:00.
Banyana Banyana head coach Vera Pauw has announced a squad of 18 players that will travel to Botswana for an All Africa Games qualifier.
Pauw has retained the bulk of the team that returned from the Cyprus Women’s Cup this morning.
Of the 23 who travelled to Europe, five have been released from camp.
There are two additions to the remaining 16; Durban Ladies defender Zama Cele and USA-based Kaylin Swart to bring the Botswana-bound squad to 18 players.
They will return to South Africa on Saturday March 21.
The second leg will be played on the weekend of April 10, 11 and 12.
