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Women's national association football team representing South Africa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The South Africa women's national football team, nicknamed Banyana Banyana (The Girls), is the national team of South Africa and is controlled by the South African Football Association.
Nickname(s) | Banyana Banyana | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | South African Football Association | ||
Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
Sub-confederation | COSAFA (Southern Africa) | ||
Head coach | Desiree Ellis | ||
Captain | Refiloe Jane | ||
Most caps | Janine Van Wyk (185) | ||
Top scorer | Portia Modise (101) | ||
FIFA code | RSA | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 50 1 (16 August 2024)[1] | ||
Highest | 45 (August 2023) | ||
Lowest | 74 (June – September 2005; December 2007) | ||
First international | |||
South Africa 14–0 Eswatini (Johannesburg, South Africa; 30 May 1993) | |||
Biggest win | |||
South Africa 17–0 Comoros (Port Elizabeth, South Africa; 31 July 2019) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
China 3–0 South Africa (Dalian, China; 7 September 2003) | |||
World Cup | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2019) | ||
Best result | Round of 16 (2023) | ||
Africa Women Cup of Nations | |||
Appearances | 13 (first in 1995) | ||
Best result | Champions (2022) | ||
Summer Olympics | |||
Appearances | 2 (first in 2012) | ||
Best result | 10th (2012) | ||
COSAFA Women's Championship | |||
Appearances | 10 (first in 2002) | ||
Best result | Champions (2002, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022) | ||
Medal record | |||
Website | https://www.safa.net/ |
South Africa competed in two Olympic Games, two FIFA Women's World Cups, and 14 Women's African Cup of Nations, where they were runners up five times before winning once. They also competed at all 10 COSAFA Women's Championships, where they won seven times, came second twice and finished in fourth place once.
Banyana Banyana's first official match was held on 30 May 1993 against Eswatini, which they won 14–0. Future Women's AFCON winning coach Desiree Ellis played in that game and scored three of the goals[2]
Their first international match outside of Africa was against China. They played two matches which they lost 8-0 and 13–0 with the latter being the heaviest defeat in their history. The team's first victory over a nation outside of Africa was in 2000, where they beat Scotland by 2–0. This was at the Cyrus Women's Cup.[3]
South Africa's biggest win came in a COSAFA Women's Championship match in Gqeberha on 31 July 2019, when they beat the Comoros 17–0. Captain Refiloe Jane scored 4 of the goals.[4][5]
They qualified for Olympic football for the first time in 2012, with coach Joseph Mkhonza.[6] Their second Olympic participation was at 2016's Rio Olympics, under coach Vera Pauw.
Banyana appeared in 14 CAF Women's Championships (Now known as Women's AFCON) and were runners up on five occasions (1995, 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018) and third at two events (2006 and 2010), before eventually winning their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, beating Morocco 2–1 in the final.[7]
Coached by Desiree Ellis, they qualified for their first FIFA Women's World Cup in 2019, in Group B with Germany, Spain and China. However, they lost all matches, and their only goal was against Spain when they went to a 1–0 lead only to lose 3–1.
South Africa qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup again in 2023, also coached by Desiree Ellis. During the group stages they lost 2–1 to Sweden after leading 1–0, drew 2–2 against Argentina after leading 2–0, but finally defeated Italy 3–2 and advanced to the Round of 16 for the very first time. They eventually lost 2–0 to the Netherlands.[8] Following the team's performance, Desiree Ellis would win the 2023 award for CAF Women's Coach of the Year.[9]
The top goal scorers at world cups are Thembi Kgatlana with 3, Hildah Magaia with 2, while Linda Motlhalo also scored one. South Africa's other goal was an own goal by Italy in 2023.
South Africa competed in all eleven COSAFA Women's Championships - a tournament featuring nations from the Southern African region - since its inception in 2002. They have won seven titles (in 2002, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020), finished second twice (in 2011 and 2022) and only failed to win a medal twice, when they finished fourth in 2021 and exited in the group stages 2023.[10]
In later years, because of South Africa's success and increased participation in bigger world events, management started sending newcomers to COSAFA tournaments, to broaden their talent pool. This contributed to a decline in Banyana Banyana's dominance at this event.[11]
The South Africa women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Banyana Banyana", which literally translates to "Girls Girls", but such double use is often interpreted to mean "all the girls". In the context of sport, it is also understood to mean "go girls, go girls".
This name is derived from the Senior Men's National team being "Bafana Bafana" which also literally means "the boys the boys". The nickname came into existence from fans shouting "bafana bafana" to mean "go boys, go boys" as encouragement during the South Africa men's team's first international game after many years of sporting isolation due to Apartheid policies in 1992, when they beat Cameroon 1–0 in Durban. The name stuck, and the female form was later applied to the women's team as well.
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
1 June 2023 Friendly | Senegal | 1–1 | South Africa | Thiès, Senegal |
17:00 UTC±0 |
|
|
Stadium: Stade Lat-Dior |
4 June 2023 Friendly | Senegal | 0–2 | South Africa | Thiès, Senegal |
17:00 UTC±0 | Stadium: Stade Lat-Dior |
21 September 2023 Friendly | United States | 3–0 | South Africa | Cincinnati, Ohio |
19:30 ET | Stadium: TQL Stadium Attendance: 22,016 Referee: Katia Garcia (Mexico) |
24 September 2023 Friendly | United States | 2–0 | South Africa | Chicago, Illinois |
17:30 ET | Report | Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 25,622 Referee: Carly Shaw-MacLaren (Canada) |
4 October 2023 2023 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa | 3–4 | Malawi | Pretoria, South Africa |
12:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia) |
7 October 2023 2023 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa | 3–1 | Madagascar | Johannesburg, South Africa |
15:30 UTC+2 |
|
|
Stadium: Dobsonville Stadium Referee: Vistoria Shangula (Namibia) |
10 October 2023 2023 COSAFA WC GS | Eswatini | 0–3 | South Africa | Johannesburg, South Africa |
15:30 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: Dobsonville Stadium Referee: Rosalie Rosalie (Madagascar) |
25 October 2023 2024 Olympic qualifying | DR Congo | 1–1 | South Africa | Kinshasa, DR Congo |
15:30 UTC+1 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stade des Martyrs |
30 October 2024 Olympic qualifying | South Africa | 2–0 (3–1 agg.) | DR Congo | Pretoria, South Africa |
Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium | ||||
Note: South Africa won 3–1 on aggregate |
30 November 2023 2024 AFWCON qualification Second round 1st leg | Burkina Faso | 1–1 | South Africa | Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast |
17:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report (SAFA) |
|
Stadium: Charles Konan Banny Stadium |
4 December 2023 2024 AFWCON qualification Second round 2nd leg | South Africa | 2–0 (3–1 agg.) | Burkina Faso | Pretoria, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+1 | Report (SAFA) | Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium | ||
Note: South Africa won 3–1 on aggregate. |
23 February 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | Tanzania | 0–3 | South Africa | Dar es Salaam,Tanzania |
|
Stadium: Azam Complex Stadium |
27 February 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | South Africa | 1–0 (4–0 agg.) | Tanzania | Mbombela,South Africa |
|
Stadium: Mbombela Stadium | |||
Note: South Africa won 4–0 on aggregate. |
5 April 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | Nigeria | 1–0 | South Africa | Abuja,Nigeria |
17:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: MKO Abiola Stadium Referee: Ghada Mehat (Algeria) |
9 April 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | South Africa | 0–0 (0–1 agg.) | Nigeria | Pretoria ,South Africa |
19:30 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Loftus Versfeld Stadium Referee: Dorsaf Ganouati (Tunisia) | ||
Note: Nigeria won 1–0 on aggregate. |
22 October 2024 2024 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa | v | Namibia | Gqeberha, South Africa |
17:00 UTC+2 | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
25 October Friendly | Denmark | v | South Africa | Aalborg, Denmark |
18:00 UTC+1 | Stadium: Aalborg Stadium |
25 October 2024 2024 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa | v | Eswatini | Gqeberha, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
28 October 2024 2024 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa | v | Seychelles | Gqeberha, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium |
29 October Friendly | England | v | South Africa | Coventry, England |
Stadium: Coventry Arena |
29 November Friendly | Jamaica | v | South Africa | Jamaica |
2 December Friendly | Jamaica | v | South Africa | Jamaica |
Position | Name | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Head coach | Desiree Ellis | |
Assistant coach | Thinasonke Mbuli | |
Goalkeeper Coach | Cameron Cox | |
Performance Analyst | Shilene Booysen | |
Physical Trainer | Ridhaa Allie | |
Kit Manager | Evah Mokwape |
Technical staff
Coach | Nat. | Tenure | Games | Win | Loss | Draw | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sandile Bali[12] | South Africa | 1995 | |||||
Nomaluno Mooi[12] | South Africa | 1998 | |||||
Fran Hilton-Smith[12] | South Africa | 2000 | |||||
Greg Mashilo[13] | South Africa | 2002 – 2004 | |||||
August Makalakalane[14][15] | South Africa | 2006 – 2011 | |||||
Joseph Mkhonza[16][17] | South Africa | 2011 – 2014 | |||||
Vera Pauw[18][19] | Netherlands | 2014 – 2016 | |||||
Desiree Ellis[20] | South Africa | 2016 – present |
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Kaylin Swart | 30 September 1994 | 36 | 0 | JVW |
GK | Dineo Magagula | 14 October 1994 | TS Galaxy Queens | |||
1 | GK | Katlego Moletsane | 3 March 1995 | 0 | Royal AM | |
7 | DF | Karabo Dhlamini | 18 September 2001 | 24 | 1 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
5 | DF | Fikile Magama | 19 January 2002 | 8 | 0 | UWC |
14 | DF | Tiisetso Makhubela | 24 April 1997 | 24 | 2 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
19 | DF | Lonathemba Mhlongo | 23 August 2002 | UWC | ||
13 | DF | Bambanani Mbane | 12 March 1990 | 81 | 4 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
2 | DF | Asanda Hadebe | 13 October 2003 (aged 19) | Mamelodi Sundowns | ||
2 | DF | Lebohang Ramalepe | 3 December 1991 | 91 | 4 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
3 | DF | Shannon Macomo | 0 | UJ | ||
10 | MF | Linda Motlhalo | 1 July 1998 | 68 | 19 | Racing Louisville |
18 | MF | Sibulele Holweni | 28 April 2001 | 31 | 16 | UWC |
4 | MF | Nonhlanhla Mthandi | 19 August 1995 | 6 | 0 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
17 | MF | Mmabatho Mogale | JVW | |||
MF | Amogelang Motau | 27 February 1997 | UWC | |||
19 | MF | Kholosa Biyana | 6 September 1994 | 38 | 2 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
15 | FW | Sinoxolo Cesane | 11 October 2000 | 0 | 0 | Mazatlán |
FW | Thubelihle Shamase | 16 January 2002 | FC Gintra | |||
10 | FW | Nicole Lauren Michael | 17 January 2001 (aged 22) | 1 | 1 | TS Galaxy Queens |
6 | FW | Noxolo Cesane | 11 October 2000 | 31 | 4 | UWC |
8 | FW | Ayesha Moosa | UJ | |||
FW | Nthabiseng Majiya | 10 June 2004 | Mamelodi Sundowns |
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Andile Dlamini | 2 September 1992 | 69 | 0 | Mamelodi Sundowns | v. Nigeria, 1 April 2024PRE |
GK | Regirl Ngobeni | 26 February 1996 | 0 | UWC | v. Nigeria, 1 April 2024PRE | |
GK | Victoria Tshidi Muroa | 3 March 1995 (aged 28) | TUT | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
DF | Noko Matlou | 30 September 1985 | 168 | 66 | Eibar | v. Nigeria, 9 April 2024 |
DF | Boitumelo Rasehlo | 18 October 1998 (aged 24) | JVW | v. Nigeria, 1 April 2024PRE | ||
DF | Asanda Hadebe | 28 November 2006 | Mamelodi Sundowns | v. Nigeria, 1 April 2024PRE | ||
DF | Faith Nokuthula | 24 June 2000 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Burkina Faso, 4 December 2023 | ||
DF | Janine van Wyk | 17 April 1987 | 185 | 12 | JVW | v. Burkina Faso, 4 December 2023 |
DF | Morongwa Manemela | 12 April 2000 (aged 23) | TUKS | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
DF | Ntombifikile Ndlovu | 23 July 1998 (aged 25) | UWC Ladies | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
DF | Unathi Simayile | 8 February 2001 (aged 22) | UWC Ladies | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
DF | Raesetja Mogale | 12 April 1990 (aged 33) | Royal AM Ladies | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
DF | Khensani Nkuna | 23 March 1998 (aged 25) | Royal AM Ladies | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
MF | Refiloe Jane | 4 August 1992 | 134 | 16 | Sassuolo | v. Nigeria, 9 April 2024 |
MF | Nomvula Kgoale | 20 November 1995 | 21 | 5 | TS Galaxy Queens | v. Nigeria, 9 April 2024 |
MF | Samkelisiwe Selana | 7 July 2004 (aged 19) | TS Galaxy Queens | v. Nigeria, 1 April 2024PRE | ||
MF | Lesego Nkoane | 1 | 0 | TS Galaxy Queens | v. Nigeria, 1 April 2024PRE | |
MF | Sphumelele Shamase | 16 January 2002 | UJ | v. Tanzania, 27 February 2024 | ||
MF | Thalea Smidt | 27 December 1997 | Mamelodi Sundowns | v. Tanzania, 27 February 2024 | ||
MF | Ayesha Moosa | 30 October 2003 (aged 19) | UJ | v. DR Congo, 30 October 2023 | ||
MF | Robyn Moodaly | 16 June 1994 | 42 | 2 | JVW | v. United States,24 September 2023 |
MF | Nomfundo Buthelezi | 20 February 1999 (aged 24) | Durban Ladies | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
FW | Gabriela Salgado | 20 February 1998 | 28 | 7 | JVW | v. Nigeria, 9 April 2024 |
FW | Jermaine Seoposenwe | 12 October 1993 | 94 | 20 | Monterrey | v. Nigeria, 9 April 2024 |
FW | Thembi Kgatlana | 2 May 1996 | 71 | 24 | UANL | v. Nigeria, 9 April 2024 |
FW | Wendy Shongwe | 18 January 2003 | 1 | 0 | University of Pretoria | v. Burkina Faso, 4 December 2023 |
FW | Melinda Kgadiete | 21 July 1992 | 26 | 3 | Mamelodi Sundowns | v. DR Congo, 30 October 2023 |
FW | Tshogofatso Motlogelwa | 29 April 2000 (aged 23) | TUT | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
FW | Jade Jones | Magic Ladies | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | |||
FW | Chelsea Daniels | 8 April 2002 (aged 21) | UWC Ladies | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship | ||
FW | Lizza Mokoena | 8 April 1997 (aged 26) | TUT | 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship |
Most capped players
|
Top goalscorers
|
FIFA Women's World Cup history | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Stadium |
2019 | Group stage | 8 June | Spain | L 1–3 | Stade Océane, Le Havre |
13 June | China | L 0–1 | Parc des Princes, Paris | ||
17 June | Germany | L 0–4 | Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier | ||
2023 | Group Stage | 23 July | Sweden | L 1–2 | Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington |
28 July | Argentina | D 2–2 | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | ||
2 August | Italy | W 3–2 | Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington | ||
Round of 16 | 6 August | Netherlands | L 0–2 | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney |
Africa Women Cup of Nations record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD | |
1991 | Banned | ||||||||
1995 | Runners-up | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 20 | −1 | |
1998 | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | −5 | |
2000 | Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | +6 | |
2002 | Fourth place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 11 | −5 | |
2004 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | −5 | |
2006 | Third place | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 5 | +3 | |
2008 | Runners-up | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | +3 | |
2010 | Third place | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | |
2012 | Runners-up | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | |
2014 | Fourth place | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 6 | +1 | |
2016 | Fourth place | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 3 | +2 | |
2018 | Runners-up | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | |
2020 | Cancelled due to Covid | ||||||||
2022 | Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | |
2024 | Qualified | ||||||||
Total | Champions: 1 time | 62 | 31 | 8 | 23 | 102 | 83 | +19 |
COSAFA Women's Championship record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Pld | W | D* | L | GS | GA | GD | |
2002 | Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | +34 | |
2006 | Champions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | +17 | |
2008 | Champions | ||||||||
2011 | Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 3 | +11 | |
2017 | Champions | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 3 | +9 | |
2018 | Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 | +11 | |
2019 | Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | +25 | |
2020 | Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 3 | +19 | |
2021 | Fourth place | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | +2 | |
2022 | Runners-up | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 2 | +7 | |
2023 | Group stage | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 | |
Total | Winner | 47 | 38 | 4 | 5 | 169 | 30 | +139 |
The list shown below shows the women's South Africa national soccer team's all−time international record against opposing nations.
*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx.
Against | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Confederation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx.
The following table shows South Africa's all-time official international record per opponent:
Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W% | Confederation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | — |
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