Banyana Banyana have suffered a blow ahead of their international friendly game set for Monday, 10 April, against Serbia.
On Friday, 31 March, Desiree Ellis announced the final Banyana squad that will take on Serbia on Monday.
The friendly will form part of the preparations for the African Champions ahead of their much anticipated second appearance in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The big spectacle will be hosted in Australia and New Zealand later this year between 20 July – 20 August 2023.
During the announcement, the Banyana mentor mentioned that players like Melinda Kgadiete, Amogelang Motau and Asanda Hadebe had made the preliminary squad.
However, they could not be chosen as they were currently out nursing injuries. Unfortunately, Ellis has experienced another blow to her final squad just a few days before the Serbian friendly.
BANYANA PLAYERS WHO WILL MISS OUT ON THE CLASH AGAINST SERBIA
Due to undisclosed health issues, the AWCON winners will be without two Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies defenders, Bambanani Mbane and Tiisetso Makhubela.
Richmond United forward Nthabiseng Majiya is also out due to an injury she sustained this weekend in the Hollywoodbets Super League encounter.
Tshegofatsho Motlogelwa is also out due to an injury. It has not been communicated yet if there will be any replacements for the players that will be withdrawn.
PLAYERS WHO COULD POSSIBLY REPLACE RULED-OUT STARS
Ellis will have to look outside her preliminary squad to replace the two Sundowns defenders that are out, as there are no options left.
That’s because the players are either already chosen or out due to particular circumstances. However, one player can possibly come and fill in for the Richmond forward, Majiya. And that is Ntombifikile Ndlovu from UWC.
Ndlovu was originally part of the preliminary squad chosen earlier on by Ellis. However, she missed out on the final squad selection.
Banyana will travel to Serbia on Thursday, 6 April and will have two training sessions before they travel.
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