Banyana Banyana should brace for a tough challenge from Brazil when they face off in two friendlies early next month in South Africa.
Brazil senior women’s football team coach Pia Sundhage, pictured above, has named a 25-member strong squad ahead of the match.
Sundhage has drafted in the squad new additions namelly Dat Silva, Thais Ferreira from Palmeiras, Michaelly (Sao Polo), Jaque Ribero (Corinthians), Ludmila ( Atletico de Madrid) and Madrid CFF’s Gabi Nunes.
South Africa host Brazil at Orlando Stadium on September 2, then a second meeting three days later at a venue to be announced.
The two teams last met at the 2016 Olympic Games in a game that ended goalless.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis named her squad on Saturday for the forthcoming friendlies.
Ellis has included in the squad the majority of the players that won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco last month.
The coach said she could not have asked for a better friendly as Banyana Banyana prepare for the World Cup.
“You always want to test yourself against better opposition. We could not have asked for a better team. There is a rich history between South Africa and Brazil. We played against them before in Rio, and Bafana Bafana have played against them before,” she told the press.
Both teams are using the match to prepare for the Women’s World Cup to be played in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Brazil won an eighth Copa América Femenina after they beat hosts Colombia 1-0 in July, whereas Banyana clinched WAFCON after beating Morocco 2-1 last month.
Brazil full squad:
Luciana, Lorena, Natascha, Antonia, Day Silva, Fernada Palermo, Kathellen, Leticia Santos, Thais Ferriera, Tamires, Rafaelle, Adriana, Ary Borges, Duda Santos, Duda Francelino, Duda Sampaio, Gabi Portilho, Kerolin, Micaelly, Jaque Ribeiro, Bia Zanaratto, Debinha, Gabi Nunes, Geyse, Ludmila
