Banyana Banyana aim for strong finish to the year against Morocco

Banyana Banyana have had their fair share of ups and downs this year, which is why captain Refiloe Jane says they want to finish the year on a high by securing a good result against Morocco on Tuesday.

Banyana will visit the Atlas Lionesses in Agadir in the two teams’ preparatory match for WAFCON, which will be held in Morocco from March.

The Desiree Ellis-coached team needs to perform better at WAFCON after finishing fourth in the previous edition, a result partly attributed to a lack of camaraderie within the team and alleged stand-offs between Ellis and some of her players.

And that’s not all; challenges between the team and the governing body, SAFA, persisted, with players boycotting training before the start of the tournament due to unpaid bonuses from the cash-strapped association.

But they can’t dwell on the past. Banyana are looking forward to another title challenge and a Top 4 finish - primarily at WAFCON next year - as that will secure a ticket to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

To ensure that happens, they’ve been hard at work at St. Dominic’s College in Boksburg this week, preparing for the WAFCON hosts - a game that will go a long way in making up for lost time this year.

“It’s going to be important for the team to get a good result against Morocco; that’s going to be a good confidence booster,” Jane said. “It’s been a long year, so we want to close it off on a high note.”

Ellis is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that happens. She’s planning for the immediate future and has called up youngsters such as Jessica Wade (17), Bonolo Mokome (17), and Casey Gordon (17) for the current camp, while leaving out established players such as Thembi Kgatlana, Hildah Magaia, Linda Motlhalo, Kaylin Swart, and Sinoxolo Cesane.

“We have new players in the team, and youngsters, so we hope they can gain the experience required to move the team forward,” Jane said.

“This camp has been designed to build team chemistry,” she added. “We need to teach them about the culture and make sure they know what it takes to advance to the next level.”

Refiloe and some senior players know that underestimating the Atlas Lionesses would be dangerous. Not only are the Moroccans the most improved team on the continent, having reached the last two WAFCON finals on home soil, but they also have a wide pool of talent and can rotate their squad with ease.

“With the experience we’ve garnered over the years, we know that many changes have taken place across African football,” Jane said. “A lot of teams have improved, and we know that Morocco has changed for the better.

“They’ve played in two consecutive WAFCON finals, and we can’t take that for granted. We are trying to show the new players what it takes to face such teams. It’s going to be a long road for them, so if they can learn as much as possible, that would be great.”