Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis is welcoming the test Japan will bring to them and also revealed which areas they would like to improve ahead of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
South Africa takes on the Japanese in the first of two international friendly matches on Saturday, 6 June 2026, Osaka, as they look to gauge themselves in preparation for the upcoming WAFCON next month in Morocco.
Ellis’ charges completed a double win over Algeria (1-0 and 2-0) in their previous two preparation matches in April, and the Banyana mentor has emphasized on a learning curve when they take on Japan.
“We’re playing against a top side, Asian champions and also World Cup winners,” Ellis said on safa.net.
“Yes, you’ve changed your coach, but the style of play is very similar to ours, where we try to move the ball around. We have grown as a team, and your level is where we are trying to reach.
“We’ve played a lot of African teams that have been physical over the last two years and now we get an opportunity to play against a team with a different style as we prepare for the WAFCON.
“We might be challenged in a different way and maybe this is something that will assist us during WAFCON, because as you know that football evolves and teams analyze each other.
“So we’re hoping that we can get something good out of this game to be able to use when we go to WAFCON, which is not too far away, as we know our intention is to qualify for the World Cup, try to play as many teams as we can that will challenge us in different ways so that we have solutions when they arise at WAFCON.”
The match gets underway at 08h50 SA Time at the Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium.
Picture credit: @Banyana_Banyana
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