Skipper happy with draw for African champs
BANYANA Banyana skipper Janine van Wyk has welcomed her side’s African Women’s Championship qualifying draw that pits them against either Mauritius or Botswana for a place in the finals in Cameroon late next year.
South Africa are likely to breeze past either of those teams – they demolished Botswana 10-0 in a friendly in September last year – but with qualification for the Olympic Games also secured, Van Wyk says every match they play between now and their trip to Rio de Janeiro next year is vital.
“We respect every opponent we face and we take every game extremely seriously,” she said.
“We know we cannot be relaxed at any stage and let our standards drop.
“Every game we play for our country is crucial, it doesn’t matter who you are up against.
“And every game from now until the Olympics is vital preparation.
“For us to keep improving and learning from coach Vera [Pauw] we need to play games and this will be another important step forward for us, whoever we face.”
Banyana have a bye in the first round of qualifying, along with Nigeria, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and Ivory Coast.
The Nigerians will face the winner of the tie between Senegal and Guinea for a place in Cameroon, while Ivory Coast, who ruined Bafana’s dreams of a spot in the Fifa World Cup earlier this year, tackle Libya or Egypt.
Zimbabwe may have qualified, along with South Africa, for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro next year, but there was no bye for them.
They tackle Tanzania in the first round of AWC qualifiers, and if they advance must tackle either Zambia or Namibia for a place in the continental finals.
The first-round qualifiers will take place in March next year, with Banyana entering at the second stage to be held in April.
The finals in Cameroon will be between November 19 and December 3, after the Olympics, when South Africa will seek to win a first-ever African title after several near misses in the past.
Nigeria have won nine of the previous 11 titles, with Equatorial Guinea grabbing the other two. Banyana have been beaten finalists on four occasions.