Bantwana back in camp to prepare for World Cup qualifier

THE SOUTH African Under-17 women’s team (Bantwana) is back in camp to start preparations for the first round second leg clash against Botswana in the 2018 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The two nations will meet on Saturday at the Dobsonville Stadium (kick-off at 3pm).

South Africa go into the match with a 5-2 lead from the first round played at the Lobatse Sports Complex in Botswana two weeks ago.

Karabo Dlamini, Thambolinye Mzoneli, Miche Minnies, Jessica Wade as well as an own-goal by Tshegofatso Mosotho saw Bantwana return triumphant from Botswana.

Bantwana coach Simphiwe Dludlu has called up 24 players for the camp.

She also welcomes back eight players that took played at the recently-ended 2017 Sasol League National Championship at the Kabokweni Stadium in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga.

A win for South Africa will see them face Morocco in the second and final round, after Equatorial Guinea withdrew from the qualifiers. The next round will be played in February 2018.

The 2018 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup will be the sixth edition of the tournament with North Korea the defending champions. Only three countries will qualify to represent the African continent at the Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Uruguay from November 20 to December 13, 2018.

Sixteen countries will take part in the football showpiece. South Africa last qualified for the tournament in 2010 in Trinidad and Tobago under head coach Solly Luvhengo. –