Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis views the England friendly as an opportunity for them to put up a show when the two sides meet in an international friendly.
The match between the African champions and European champions is scheduled for 29 October at the Coventry Building Arena. The last time the nations met, the Lionesses emerged 1-0 winners at the Cyprus Women’s Cup in 2010.
Banyana haven’t played a competitive match since the friendlies against Senegal in June 2024 and they are using this upcoming game to prepare for the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title next year.
- ALSO READ: Banyana Find Out 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship Opponents
- Banyana Announce Squads For Europe Trip & Cosafa
Ellis told the media this week that in as much as England are a stronger opposition, that presents a better opportunity to prepare for WAFCON, and that Banyana have also improved and are determined to put on a show.
“Look it’s a big challenge,” Ellis told reporters.
“England are a top side and have been to many competitions. They’ve been to the World Cup final, but we’ve shown our mentality over the last couple of years.
“Its’ another opportunity for us to test, it’s all preparation for the WAFCON. We know winning it is probably easier than defending it and we don’t want to be the first country that is not able to defend it.
“So, this is part of that preparation. We started with Senegal having some young players and not calling in the regulars. It’s a bigger game and obviously we want to make sure that we put up a good show and get a positive result because it’s all about getting the mix right.
And we start now preparing for that, to make sure that when WAFCON comes around we have everything in place and that we are ready,” she said.
