Soccer
You want to go there and do better - Ellis─── MORGAN PIEK 15:00 Mon, 25 Jul 2022
The new champions of Africa, Banyana Banyana, are targeting a better performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
During the 2019 World Cup in France, Banyana were not able to advance past the group stage following defeats to Germany, Spain, and China.
South Africa earned qualifications for the global showpiece by reaching the semi-finals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, said they will be much better prepared this time.
“We would like to get out of the group stages first,” said Ellis.
“By having gone there and having seen what it's about - you want to go there and do better. That is why it is so important for us to go back to the World Cup.
“We now have a year, as opposed to just six months like the last time.
“We will have a couple of players coming back from injury as well, so it's really going to be tough to select a squad.”
On Saturday, Banyana Banyana won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time ever after beating the hosts, Morocco, 2-1 in the final that was played in Rabat.
The draw for next year’s World Cup will only be conducted on 22 October in Auckland, New Zealand.
