Johannesburg – Banyana Banyana – the South African national senior women’s football team – will officially kick off their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign against Sweden.
In South Africa, Kickoff is on Sunday morning at 07:00. South Africa time is 10 hours behind that of New Zealand.
The match, which will be played at the Wellington Regional Stadium, will be the second appearance by the African champions, who first made their World Cup debut back in 2019.
All the hard work the team has put in since assembling for camp on 12 June 2023 will be put to the test against a strong Sweden side that is currently ranked third in the world.
The SASOL-sponsored Banyana Banyana will come into this encounter with boosted confidence after a 2-0 victory over Costa Rica in their last friendly encounter played on 15 July 2023 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Captain Refiloe Jane admitted that it won’t be an easy encounter, but she added that the team has prepared well.
“It’s a difficult game that we will play against Sweden, probably one of the toughest games in our group,” said Jane.
“We have played them before and it won’t be easy, but the preparations have been going very well from the time we qualified for the World Cup up to this day.
“I think we have done what we can do as a team and we are looking forward to the game, hoping for a good result based on preparations that we have put in.”
The team has gained massive support from home and will have more support from the stands with SA Football Association President Dr. Danny Jordaan, Sport, Art, and Culture Minister Goodenough Zizi Kodwa and the members of the South African High Commission in Wellington will all attend the opening group game against Sweden.
Dr. Jordaan, Minister Kodwa, and the members of the South African High Commission in Wellington also spent the morning with the team ahead of their opening match.
They assured coach Desiree Ellis, the technical team, and the players of their unwavering support in their World Cup journey.
Banyana Banyana are in Group G alongside Sweden, Italy, and Argentina.
Meanwhile, in Group C, Japan walloped Zambia’s Copper Queens 5 – 0.
The Japanese scorers included Nina Tanaka 55′, Hinata Miyazawa 43′, 62′, June Endo 71′, and Riko Ueki 90+11′ (P).
Banyana Banyana 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup fixtures:
23 July
Group G – Sweden v South Africa 17:00, Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington/TeWhanganui-a-tara)
07:00 RSA
28 July
Group G – Argentina v South Africa 12:00, Dunedin Stadium (Dunedin/?tepoti)
02:00 RSA
2 August
Group G – South Africa v Italy 19:00, Wellington Regional Stadium (Wellington/TeWhanganui-a-tara)
09:00 RSA
*Original article: Banyana Banyana ready to kickoff World Cup campaign | SAFA.net
