Africa’s top-ranked side, Banyana Banyana, will face FIFA Women’s World Cup finalists England in an away international friendly match in October.

Coach Desiree Ellis’s charges will meet the Lionesses at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Tuesday, 29 October, as part of the African champions’ preparations for next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

The WAFCON was originally scheduled for this year but was postponed due to the overlap with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where few African nations qualified. The tournament will now take place next year, with specific dates yet to be announced.

“After the two away international friendly matches against Senegal in June (1-1 and 2-0), this is a great opportunity for us as we continue with our preparations for WAFCON,” Ellis said. 

“It gives us time to really prepare well for this challenge to defend our WAFCON title. I’m also excited that the challenge of facing England, the European champions, will test us in a different way. We hope our fans in the UK will come out in numbers to support us. Lastly, a very big thank you to both SAFA and Sasol for their unwavering support and in getting us this top nation to test us as we continue with our preparations to defend our title in the WAFCON.” 

It’s been over 14 years since the South African senior women’s national team faced the European champions, with England winning their group stage meeting at the Cyprus Cup 1-0 in February 2010.

“It is a great opportunity for us as African champions to play against the European champions as a stage for our players to showcase how far we’ve developed as a nation. Playing in front of a large South African and African expat community living in England will give coach Desiree and the girls an extra gear to get a good result,” said SAFA CEO Lydia Manyepao. 

Nozipho Mbatha, Senior Manager: Group Brand & Sponsorships, added,“We are thrilled to support SASOL Banyana Banyana as they prepare to face England in this upcoming friendly. This match will present an excellent opportunity for the team to fine-tune their strategies and skills for the 2024 WAFCON tournament. We believe that they will use the power of sport to inspire and unite South Africans, and on behalf of Sasol, we wish them all the best.” 

England, who were runners-up at the last World Cup, are the current European champions after defeating Germany in the 2022 final, the same year Banyana won the WAFCON. This promises to be a formidable test for the African champions.