World Cup-bound Banyana Banyana are set to play Brazil in a high-profile friendly match in Durban.
According to City Press, SAFA have secured a tie against Brazil, who are ranked ninth on the FIFA world rankings.
The South African national women’s team recently won the Africa Cup of Nations [WAFCON], also booking a place in the global soccer showpiece.
SAFA chief executive Tebogo Motlanthe confirmed the upcoming fixtures, including a clash between Bafana Bafana and Egypt.
“We got an invitation from Egypt to play the match in the UAE. We are going to play Egypt in Dubai,” he told City Press.
“We are also looking for a second game there in the UAE. We are going to utilise all the Fifa international date windows. It will be either friendly games or camps. Sierra Leone and Botswana also want to play us.”
SAFA believes playing the recently crowned Copa América winners – Seleção Brasileira Feminina – will help the team prepare for next year’s World Cup.
Banyana, the reigning African champions, will represent Africa at the World Cup that New Zealand and Australia will jointly host between 20 July and 20 August 2023.
However, Brazil, who also qualified for the World Cup, may have to do without Marta Vieira da Silva who is nursing a knee injury picked up in March.
The veteran forward was not part of her country’s team that won Copa América last month.
The two sides have met previously, and they played out a goalless draw in the group stage of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016.
Meanwhile, a new look Banyana takes part in the COSAFA Cup next month.
SAFA have appointed Simphiwe Dludlu to manage the team, citing Desiree Ellis, and the national team’s regulars will have another engagement.
The move looks set to broaden Ellis’ selection base for future competitions.
