02 December 2023– Banyana Banyana landed in South Africa on Saturday ahead of the second leg of the WAFCON qualifier against Burkina Faso to be hosted at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Monday 4 December 2023.
The Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s team were held to a 1-1 draw by Burkina Faso in the first leg in Cote D’Ivoire on Thursday. Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges do have an away goal advantage and will take this to Monday’s encounter.
Ellis applauded her team for their bravery, but admitted the task is not finished and there is still work to be done in the next 90 minutes.
“I felt we started a bit slow, created a few chances and I thought we scored. Thembi was not offside, it was a rebound that Janine had taken,” said the coach.
“We have to be better. I take my hat off to the players. It was a brave performance, considering the travel [Banyana Banyana landed in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and had to travel to Yamoussoukro by bus for three hours] and the fact that they have been playing back-to-back games.”
Jermaine Seoposenwe, who did not travel with the team, will be back for the second leg to boost the home side.
The winner of the tie will advance to the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and Banyana Banyana will be hoping to go all the way to defend their title.
The team will have their MD-1 training session on Sunday afternoon at (16:30pm).
The second leg will be played on Monday 4 December (15:00pm CAT) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium and will be LIVE on SABC Sport and SABC 3.