Banyana Banyana players in training at UJ Ackland Park.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has placed a strong emphasis on squad management at the upcoming Wafcon in Morocco later this month, saying they will do their best to control how they usher new players into the team.
Ellis put her head on the block and named her final 26-member squad to represent the nation at Wafcon. While most of the senior players are returning for yet another major tournament, there are also several relatively new faces.
The 63-year-old’s choices were understandable. Banyana will return to the event not only eager to make up for last year’s disappointing fourth-place finish, but also needing to secure a convincing top-four finish to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
“We have a couple of players who are under the age of 23,” Ellis said after her squad announcement and the team’s send-off at the headquarters of their main sponsor, Sasol, in Sandton on Friday afternoon.
