14 February 2023 – SASOL Banyana Banyana were set to depart for Turkey on Valentine’s Day (Tuesday, 14 February) to participate in the Turkish Women’s Cup.

Coach Desiree Ellis and members of her technical team were set to travel from OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, to Antalya, Turkey, with 16 local-based players on Tuesday night.
The overseas-based players (seven players) will join the camp in Antalya on Wednesday.

The South African senior women’s team will open their Turkish Women’s Cup account when they face Uzbekistan on Saturday.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) consulted widely before allowing Banyana Banyana  to travel to Turkey. This follows the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and many more injured or missing in Turkey and in  neighbouring Syria a few days ago.

World football governing body FIFA also gave the greenlight to the tournament in a letter sent to all the participants on 10 February 2023. The participating teams are: Bulgaria, Estonia, Kosovo, Hong Kong, Jordan, North Macedonia, Slovenia, South Africa, Uzbekistan and Zambia.