14 May 2026 – Sasol Banyana Banyana Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis has announced a squad of 23 players to take on Japan in back-to-back away international friendly matches next month.
In the first clash, the two nations will lock horns on Saturday, 6 June at Nagai Ballgame Field, with the second scheduled for Tuesday, 9 June at J-Green Sakai, also in Osaka.
The fixtures see the return of the overseas-based duo of Thembi Kgatlana and Bongeka Gamede, who missed the Algeria camp due to injury.
But South Africa will be without Lebohang Ramalepe who is writing exams, while the trio of Amogelang Motau, Hilda Magaia and Shakira O’Malley have not been called up as they are nursing injuries.
“It is unfortunate to have those players not available but it’s also good to see the return of Thembi and Bongeka, as well as Isabella and Asanda who were with us during the COSAFA camp in February. It’s been kind of difficult to look at and select players outside the two previous camps (COSAFA and Algeria), so I am really grateful that the league is starting with the kind of format that it has as it will give us a great chance to monitor and assess players in one place,” said Dr Ellis.
The games against Japan come at the back of two wins against Algeria as the 2022 African Champions continue with their preparation for the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The tournament was rescheduled to be staged from 25 July – 16 August and Dr Ellis believes Japan will help gauge the team’s readiness.
“Of course two big games against Japan ranked number five in the world, they’re also the current Asian champions. We know the qualities that they have, they will really challenge us in a different way to what Algeria did. As we prepare for the WAFCON, these are the type of challenges we want, to be able to see what we still need to work on because nothing is perfect yet,” added Dr Ellis.
“Japan will be completely different to Algeria, very possession based, good movement off the ball, so we really have to be on top of our game defensively. But it’s also what we do when we have the ball and that is going to be key. It will definitely be a challenge, a different challenge to what we’re going to face at WAFCON.”
Sasol Banyana Banyana assemble for camp on Sunday, 31 May in Johannesburg and will depart for Japan the next day (Monday, 1 June).
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