EXPECTATIONS are high for Banyana Banyana as the countdown to the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Awcon)kiock-off in Morocco draws nearer.
Banyana, who are among favourites heading to the tournament, are in Morocco preparing for the finals.
Midfielder Amogelang Motau, who will be making her debut in the tournament, says they are looking beyond their Group C rivals Nigeria.
The two sides will clash in the opening group match on 4 July at Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Banyana will then play against debutants Burundi and Botswana in their other Group C matches.
However, the match against Nigeria is the one that has set tongues wagging when the draw was conducted a few months ago.
In 2018, Banyana defeated Nigeria in the opening match of the Awcon in Ghana.
But that will not matter this time, according to Motau.
“I don’t think the opening game will be the decider of the tournament. And we will not only be playing against Nigeria in the tournament, but we will also face different teams,” he said.
“We are not going to be talking about just one team (Nigeria). Yes, they are there, a very competitive team but it is not about them. We are focused on working on ourselves and we are not so bothered about playing Nigeria.”
Like every South African, Motau wants to see Banyana win the tournament and qualifying for the 2023 Fifa World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.
Banyana need to finish in the top four to qualify for the World Cup.
And on their quest of winning the title for the first time, Banyana have received a huge motivation as they have been promised R10m in bonuses if they win the tournament.
“For me, the main goal is to qualify for the 2023 Women’s World Cup. At the end of the day, that is all that matters and every other thing thereafter is secondary. The primary aim is to qualify, of course, we also want to win the Awcon,” Motau said.
