Defending African champions Banyana Banyana are embracing a rigorous international test against Japan to sharpen their competitive edge ahead of next month’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Senior players including goalkeeper Andile Dlamini and star forward Thembi Kgatlana believe the upcoming international friendlies against the fifth-ranked Japanese side will provide a crucial yardstick for the team’s tactical progress. South Africa enters the high-profile fixtures with strong momentum following back-to-back friendly wins over Algeria in April, where they secured a 1-0 victory in Durban before sealing a comfortable 2-0 win.
Dlamini highlighted that testing themselves against elite global opposition is exactly what the squad needs to identify areas for improvement before launching their continental title defense. The high-stakes matches will offer head coach Desiree Ellis a definitive look at her players’ readiness as they prepare to defend their African crown at the 2026 WAFCON tournament.
–ChannelAfrica–
