The Brazil national women’s team has touched down in South Africa ahead of the two much-awaited friendlies with Banyana Banyana in preparation for the FIFA Women’s World Cup due to take place in Australia and New Zealand next year.
Pia Sundhage’s side received a rousing welcome from a group of South African fans upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday afternoon.
South African Football Association (SAFA) president Dr Danny Jordaan and NEC members Job Mchunu and Jacob Mathathe welcomed the reigning Copa América Femenina champions at the airport.
The first match will take place at Orlando Stadium on September 2 and then face off in the second encounter three days later at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
The kick-off for both clashes is scheduled for 18:00.
“We are happy to be in South Africa and looking forward to meeting the African champions in the coming days,” said the South American side’s team manager Ana Lorena.
Meanwhile, the Technical sponsors’ Le Coq Sportif also rolled out the red carpet for the reigning WAFCON champions on Tuesday morning. The team was given appreciation gifts and had a chance to engage and take pictures with supporters and staff members, as the South African football governing body reported.
“In sport, especially in football, nobody speaks about the number of times you’ve reached the final, the number of times you have been consistently brilliant at what you are doing, so that little hard work and extra training sessions have all come to this moment where you have given the nation hope. You have given us something to smile about,” Le Coq Sportif Marketing Manager Courtney Williams.
“This is one of those moments in South African history where people will say, ‘Where were you when Banyana Banyana won WAFCON,’ and I want to thank you for that. Today is all about us giving a small token of appreciation for what you have done for the nation.”
