5 September 2022 – Brazil women’s national team coach Pia Sundhage says Banyana Banyana are a very good team and she is impressed by what she has seen of Desiree Ellis’ charges.
The South Americans are in South Africa to play two friendly internationals against Banyana Banyana and they revealed that they have kept close tabs on their South African counterparts in the last few months.
The eight-time Copa América Femenina winners beat the SASOL-sponsored African champions 3-0 in the first friendly international between the two sides at the Orlando Stadium on Friday, but the result did not change Sundhage’s assessment of the South African senior women’s national team.
Banyana Banyana and Brazil have qualified for the Women’s World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand next years, and both teams are using the matches as part of their preparations for the tournament.
“They [Banyana Banyana] are the best team in Africa, to begin with, and if the coach [Ellis] continues with the good job she has been doing with the team, things will be very interesting during the World Cup,” said Sundhage.
“I think some of the players are very interesting, so is the team’s playing style. It could be very interesting. Banyana Banyana are a very good team and I am absolutely sure that Coach Desiree will continue to make them even better better going to the World Cup.”
The Brazilians have been taking in the sights since arriving in South Africa last week and defender Kathellen Sousa said they have loved their time in the country.
“It has been very nice playing here. South Africa is just an amazing place,” she said.
“We work as a team, we try to improve in every game. We do make mistakes but we try to fix them in the next game.”
The two teams meet again in the final friendly international at the Moses Mabhida Stadium tonight on 5 September 2022. Tickets to the match are still available at Ticketpro.