| Sasol Banyana Banyana believe that facing Japan on Saturday, 6 June 2026 in the first of two international friendly matches will give them a real test in preparation for the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) set for next month in Morocco. The South Africans are in Asia to tackle Nadeshiko Japan – their second visit to the Asian country since 2019 where they played one official fixture and a training match in Tokyo. Both nations face each other after a lot has happened over the years. Among many other achievements, Japan won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2011, while Banyana Banyana were crowned African Champions in 2022, their maiden continental title. “We’re playing against a top side, Asian champions and also World Cup winners. Yes, you’ve changed your coach, but the style of play is very similar to ours, where we try to move the ball around. We have grown as a team, and your level is where we are trying to reach. We’ve played a lot of African teams that have been physical over the last two years and now we get an opportunity to play against a team with a different style as we prepare for the WAFCON,” Banyana Banyana Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis said in Osaka on Friday. “We might be challenged in a different way and maybe this is something that will assist us during WAFCON, because as you know that football evolves and teams analyze each other. So we’re hoping that we can get something good out of this game to be able to use when we go to WAFCON, which is not too far away, as we know our intention is to qualify for the World Cup, try to play as many teams as we can that will challenge us in different ways so that we have solutions when they arise at WAFCON. Banyana Banyana face a Japanese side with a new coach, Michihisa Kano, who was appointed in April and has already been in charge of three games, winning one and losing two against the United States of America. Kano has assembled a squad of 23 players for the friendly matches against South Africa, with only two based at home in Japan. The fifth world ranked Asians won three of the last five fixtures they played this year. Kickoff on Saturday is at 08h50 SA Time at the Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium. SOURCED FROM SAFA WEBSITE. |
