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Banyana Banyana gearing up for World Cup

Banyana Banyana players
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Following their runners-up finish at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ghana on Saturday, Banyana Banyana are now shifting their focus to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

They received a warm welcome on touching down at the OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday afternoon, showing off their silver medals from the continental tournament.

Banyana Banyana’s star keeps on shining bright, they are improving with every match they play.

Having won back-to-back COSAFA Cup tournaments under Desiree Ellis, they went to the Women’s AFCON high on confidence.

They gave it their all at the event held in Ghana. Their only loss in five matches in the competition was in a penalty shoot-out in the final.

The team would have loved to win the tournament. However, the main goal – qualifying for the 2019 World Cup – was attained by beating Mali 2-0 in a semi-final clash.

“We all long said that it’s not negotiable. The under 17s qualified, so we needed to qualify. For many of them it was the last opportunity. All the efforts put in by SAFA and Sasol to make sure we have proper preparation,” says Desiree Ellis, Banyana Banyana Coach.

Banyana’s Thembi Kgatlana finished the tournament as the top goal scorer with five goals.

Despite Banyana’s 4-3 penalty shoot-out defeat to the Super Falcons in the final, Kgatlana was named the player of the tournament.

The 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be staged in France from the 7th of June to the 7th of July.

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