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| Banyana captain Janine Van Wyk looking to guide the nation all the way in the Women’s AFCON. |
Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group A with hosts Cameroon, Egypt and Zimbabwe. Their opening match is against Zimbabwe on Saturday, November 19.
Their second encounter is against the Indomitable Lions on Tuesday, November 22 with their final group match set for Friday, November 25 against the Pharaohs.
Group A Rankings:
- Cameroon – highest ranked country in the group (47th in the world and 3rd on the continent)
- South Africa – (one place adrift at 48th in the world and 4th on the continent)
- Egypt – (80th in the world and 9th on the continent)
- Zimbabwe – lowest ranked nation in this group (94th in the world, 13th on the continent)
Appearances:
- South Africa: will be making their 11th in a row. They have never won the tournament. They finished 4th in 2014 in Namibia. They have also hosted the tournament three times – 2000, 2004, and 2010. They were runners up four times – 1995, 2000, 2008, 2012
- Cameroon: also making their 11th appearance, missed out on the second edition in 1995. Were runners up in 1991, 2004, 2014
- Zimbabwe: making their 4th appearance. Last appeared in 2004 when they finished in the group stages. Best finish was 4th place in 2000.
- Egypt: Only their second appearance, last featured in the tournament in 1998 where they were knocked out in the first round
- South Africa and Zimbabwe were the two African representatives at the Olympics
Fact file:
- The Women Africa Cup of Nations was previously known as the African Women’s Championship, until 2015
- It is an international women’s football competition held every two years
- It is sanctioned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF)
- It was first contested in 1991, but was not held biennially until 1998
- The competition has served as a qualifying tournament for the FIFA Women’s World Cup every other tournament since its inception in 1991
- Nigeria has won this tournament 9 times – (1991, 1995, 1998*, 2000, 2002*, 2004, 2006*, 2010, 2014)
- Equatorial Guinea has won it two times – (2008*, 2012*)
- The 2016 edition will take place in Cameroon from 19 November to 03 December
- This is the 10th Edition of the Tournament
2016 WOMEN’S AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS FIXTURES:
GROUP MATCHES
South Africa vs Zimbabwe (19:30 SA time) 19 Nov 2016 Stade de Yaounde
Cameroon vs South Africa (17:00 SA time) 22 Nov 2016 Stade de Yaounde
Egypt vs South Africa (17:00 SA time) 25 Nov 2016 Stade de Limbe
SEMI FINALS
1st Group A vs 2nd Group B (17:00) 29 Nov 2016 Stade de Yaounde
1st Group B vs 2nd Group A (20:00) 29 Nov 2016 Stade de Limbe
3rd / 4th Place Play Offs
Loser Semi 1 vs Loser Semi 2 (16:30) 2 Dec 2016 Stade de Yaounde
FINAL
Winner Semi 1 vs Winner Semi 2 (16:30) 3 Dec 2016 Stade de Yaounde
Banyana Banyana Squad for 2016 AFCON:
Goalkeepers:
Andile Dlamini
Yolula Tsawe
Roxanne Barker
Defenders:
Leandra Smeda
Nothando Vilakazi
Janine van Wyk (C)
Noko Matlou
Astria Boks
Bambanani Mbane
Lebogang Mabatle
Nomathemba Ntsibande
Midfielders:
Mamello Makhabane
Amogelang Motau
Refiloe Jane
Nompumelelo Nyandeni
Silindile Ngubane
Linda Motlhalo
Forwards:
Shiwe Nogwanya
Andisiwe Mgcoyi
Jermaine Seoposenwe
Thembi Kgatlana