All pressure on Banyana at WAFCON says Salgado

Banyana Banyana wing-back Gabriela Salgado has admitted that the pressure is on the South African women’s national team as they prepare to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco.

Banyana won their maiden title in 2022, and ahead of their title defence, Salgado believes every team will want to beat the champions. They will play their Group C opener against Ghana next Monday at Honneur Stadium, and Salgado believes retaining the crown will be a tough task.

“The team is fully focused, prepared, and we know what we have to do at the tournament, being champions from 2022. Going into the tournament, it’s going to take a lot of focus and determination because every team that comes here wants to win. So we just have to go out there and do what the coach has asked for us and what we’ve trained for,” she told SAFA Media.

“It’s very hot here, but we are adjusting. You can complain, but it doesn’t change the weather, so we are adjusting and doing our very best to get used to the conditions because we will face the same heat during the tournament.

“So it’s just to adjust and to make sure that we hydrate and stay focused because it takes a lot of our energy. But yes, the girls are doing well, we are fully prepared and ready for this fight.”

Twelve nations will battle it out in Morocco from July 5 to 26 to wrestle the trophy from the reigning champions. The tournament will kick off on Saturday, July 5, but South Africa begin their campaign on Monday, July 7 against Ghana at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda.

They will then face Tanzania and Mali on Friday, July 11, and Monday, July 14.