Salgado: We Had A Shaky Start In The WAFCON

Banyana Banyana forward Gabriela Salgado confirmed that the team experienced a “bumpy start” in their first two matches of the 2024 WAFCON tournament but bounced back strongly in their third game.

As defending champions, the team faced criticism for unconvincing performances in their opening fixtures. However, they silenced their critics with a dominant 4-0 victory over Mali, topping their group and securing a spot in the quarter-finals.

“I think we did have a bumpy start, but it’s normal,” said Salgado.

“We came together in this tournament from our clubs. We just made sure that what the coaches wanted us to do at training, we try to implement in the field. Some days things won’t go to plan, but definitely in our last game we showed that our hard work at training is paying off, and we are looking at something bigger.”

She continued: “I think it came together at a perfect time going into quarters. We’re ready, we know what is expected of us. The team started to gel together a lot more, and we understand each other much better as well.

“So I think going into the next game, we’re ready, mentally and physically, we know what is at stake. So we’re just going to give our best and top off that performance we left in the last game.”

Salgado expressed the difficulties they’ll face in their game against Senegal; however, they look to perform at their best and go for a victory.

“Like I mentioned, every team is coming out to beat us as defending champions,” said Salgado. “So it’s not going to be an easy one, but we’re going to go out there and give our best and look for victory, of course.

“It’s not going to be easy, we’re going to need each other, we’re going to need our fans, the support from South Africans backing us and being behind us no matter the outcome.

“Just know that we’ll go out there and give our 100%. We won’t stop working until we get the results that we want.”

She further added that they’ve analysed their opponent through video watching: “We’ve managed to watch a few clips. They’ve been in the tournament as well,” Salgado stated.

“We watched our positions, and we’re doing a lot of video sessions as well to analyse them so that we’re going to have a game plan going into the game. We just have to go out there, stick to the plan that we come up with, and give our best.”

The match against Senegal in the quarter finals will take place at Honneur Stadium in Oujda on Saturday (21:00).