8 October 2024 – Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has announced the 23-player squad that will participate in the European Tour from 21 – 31 October 2024.
The announcement was held at the SABC Studios in Auckland Park on Tuesday ahead of the African Champion’s high-profile international friendly matches against Denmark and England.
The Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s national team open their European account when they play against Denmark on 25 October 2024 at the Aalborgh Stadium, in Denmark. The match is scheduled for a 18h00 kick off. They then travel the short distance to Coventry in the United Kingdom where they face reigning European Champions England on 29 October 2024.
This match will be played at Coventry Building Society Arena at 19h45 (SA time 21h45).
Dr Ellis’ charges have continued to represent women’s football admirably on the global stage and these international friendlies will also primarily help her prepare for the defense of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
Speaking after the announcement, Dr Ellis said that they were very excited for the two upcoming international friendlies, and that they have an objective going into these two matches. “We are preparing for the 2025 WAFCON, and we are very happy that we will be able to prepare against world class opposition.
Denmark will give us the opportunity to work on our strength and areas that we struggle with against some African opponents. If you remember well, Senegal gave us very physical matches in our last international friendlies, and although I felt the player there dealt well with the situation, we need to work hard in building our players in those areas; said Dr Ellis.
England and European Champions, and that on its own will be a great challenge for us, who also hold the title in Africa. We are looking forward to an exciting, fast paced, tactical match against a team we have watched before and a coach whose philosophy I know.
Banyana Banyana will return to South African on 31 October 2024, where they will then turn their attention to the next international friendly match against the Reggae Queens of Jamacia in November 2024.
23 player squad:
South African Football: Itumeleng Khune is known as one of the best goalkeepers in the team’s history.
Starshine
Sunil Gavaskar was out off the first ball of a Test match thrice in his career – Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to reach 10,000 Test runs and he ended his career scoring 34 Test centuries. But did you know he was out three times off the first ball of a Test? The bowlers to dismiss him were: Geoff Arnold (Edgbaston, 1974), Malcolm Marshall (Kolkata, 1984) and Imran Khan (Jaipur, 1987).
tin fox
Alistair Cook – 294 Runs, Edgbaston 2011; Michael Clarke – 329 Runs, Sydney 2012; Brendon McCullum – 302 Runs, Wellington 2014. They were all dropped by Ishant Sharma early on in their innings.