AFTER Banyana Banyana have been involved in two back to back Olympic games 2012 and 2016, interim coach Desiree Ellis says qualifying for the France World Cup will be a cherry on top.
Banyana, the 2017 Caf Women’s National Team of the Year, have never qualified for Fifa’s Women’s World Cup, and Ellis, who has been interim coach for 16 months, is targeting World Cup qualification.
This is after clinching Cosafa Women’s Championship last year in Zimbabwe.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday ahead of their friendly match against Sweden on Thursday, Ellis said: “It’s going to be very exciting. The players are looking forward to it. It’s a big game.
“Last year was a fantastic year for us. And this year is the beginning of a very big year for Banyana, starting with Sweden then Africa Women’s Cup of Nations qualifiers (in June) and at the end of the year, the big task will be qualifying for the World Cup.
“The big cherry on top is qualifying for the World Cup,” she said.
Banyana will play Sweden on an international friendly on Sunday (2pm).
This will be the third time the two nations meet having played 2012 and 2016 London Olympic Games and lost in both matches.
They will be hoping for a third time lucky.
The first match took place at the 2012 London Olympic Games with Banyana going down 4-1 – the retired Portia Modise scored South Africa’s consolation goal.
Their most recent meeting was at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games where South Africa lost 1-0.
Banyana’s captain Janine Van Wyk said: “Sweden are tough opponents. The spirit in camp is high after winning the Cosafa Cup. We are looking forward to the challenge. Our ultimate goal is to qualify for the World Cup.”