South Africa’s female national team, Banyana Banyana must shake of the joy of qualifying for their first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in order to contain Nigeria’s Super Falcons in Saturday’s final of the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Ghana, footballlive.ng reports.
Wednesday’s 2-0 spanking of Mali put Banyana into their maiden outing at the Mundial next year in France, thereby igniting frenetic celebrations in the team’s camp and across their country back home, with attendant distractions from their ‘rematch’ against Nigeria.
South Africa shocked the Falcons with a 1-0 sinker during their first group match at AWCON 2018, such that the Nigerians will be all out to get quick atonement from Saturday’s final in Accra, Ghana, but Banyana look like they are not even thinking of that game just yet.
That is because Banyana will be in the same country, France, where their male colleagues, Bafana Bafana also debuted at the FIFA World Cup in 1998, and The Rainbow Nation is already thinking of setting fresh marks.
Thier surge comes following a 2-0 triumph over Mali in the semi-final, as goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Lebogang Ramalepe at the Cape Coast Stadium booked the three-time AWCON losing finalists for France 2019.
Pundits believe time might be against them, before they finally shake off their wild jubilation and then settle down to prepare for the final, from which the Falcons will be chasing a ninth continental title.
However, Banyana’s coach, Desiree Ellis said they will quickly turn their sight on Saturday’s final against the eight-time champions.
Ellis assured: “We will celebrate and start preparing for the final. We are not a team that talk much in the media.
“We will work together as a team and plan again; and hope to execute the plan because that’s all it is about.
“We knew that we had accomplished what we wanted to do and that’s going to the World Cup.
“This is not about this team only. This is about all of South Africa.
It is also about the Football Association. We wouldn’t have been anywhere if they weren’t on board.
“They have been tremendous in the preparations we have had over a year. They made sure we made the best preparations possible.
“We have never won the Women’s AFCON and we are going to give it a shot and see what happens on the weekend.”
