Banyana Banyana squad for Cosafa Cup announced

With the 2021 Cosafa Women’s Cup coming up later this month, Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis has named a 20-woman squad for the tournament, which will be held in Nelson Mandela Bay, Gqeberha.

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Ellis is currently in Nigeria with the squad, where they will play their first game of the Aisha Buhari Cup against Ghana on Friday.

The tournament started on Wednesday, 15 September and will conclude on Tuesday, 21 September.

Janine van Wyk is the only overseas-based player that has been included in the Cosafa squad.

The likes of Thembi Kgatlana, Refiloe Jane, Linda Motlhalo, Lebogang Ramalepe and Hilda Magaia will return to their respective overseas clubs after the Buhari Cup.

At lest 12 players who are currently in Lagos for the Buhari Cup have been included for the Cosafa Cup, while there is a first time senior national women’s team call-up for Bloemfontein Celtic Ladies striker Chabane Reitumetse, who has been doing really well in the Hollywoodbets Super League.

In selecting her squad, Ellis said that some players couldn’t be included because they don’t have travelling documents.

“Each tournament determines what happens in the next one and this is already our preparation for the AWCON qualifiers. We face challenges sometimes with players who we want to be included in the squad but do not have travel documents and that leaves the situation out of our hands,” said Ellis.

Banyana will play their last game at the Buhari Cup on Tuesday,21 September against Nigeria, then they will return home to get their preparations for the tournament in Gqeberha underway.

Both the Buhari Cup and the Cosafa tournament are part of the preparations for the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.

Banyana squad for Cosafa Cup:

Goalkeepers: Kaylin Swart (JVW FC), Mapaseka Mpuru (University of Pretoria)

Defenders: Karabo Makhurubetshi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tiisetso Makhubela (Tshwane University of Technology) Bambanani Mbane (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ongeziwe Ndlangisa (Sunflower), Janine Van Wyk (Glasgow City), Koketso Tlailane (Tshwane University of Technology)

Midfielders: Mamello Makhabane (JVW FC), Oratile Mokwena (Mamelodi Sundowns), Gabriela Salgado (JVW FC) Noxolo Cesane (University of Western Cape), Robyn Moodaly (JVW FC), Sibulele Holweni (University of Western Cape)

Forwards: Melinda Kgadiete (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ntombifikile Ndlovu (Sunflower), Kgaelebane Mohlakoana (Bloemfontein Celtic), Amanda Mthandi (University of Johannesburg), Rhoda Mulaudzi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Chabana Reitumetse (Bloemfontein Celtic)