Katlego Sekhu

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has kicked off in New Zealand and Australia, and Banyana Banyana is gearing up for their opening match against Sweden on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the Wellington Stadium in New Zealand.
Ranked 54th in the world, Banyana faces a formidable challenge in taking on the third-ranked Swedish team. The last encounter between the two nations was in January 2019 in an international friendly which ended in a goalless draw. Now, the stakes are even higher as they face off on the biggest stage in world football.
Placed in Group G alongside 28th-ranked Argentina, 16th-ranked Italy, and Sweden, Banyana Banyana faces tough competition. As the lowest-ranked team in the group, their chances of advancing to the knockout stages remain slim, however, the spirit of the team is one that oozes optimism.
South Africa’s national team has shown resilience and improvement in recent years, winning the AFCON in 2022.
Banyana striker Hildah Magaia has urged her teammates to approach Sunday’s game with a positive mindset.
“We should go there with a positive mind, positive energy, so we cannot be threatened by them having a higher ranking,” Magaia told Times Live.
“That’s what we can do so we can gain the confidence going to the game and not be intimidated by them.”
Magaia admits she is nervous, however, she is looking forward to competing in the World Cup.
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