South Africa women’s national team midfielder Kholosa Biyana believes that losing the Olympic Games ticket to Nigeria will spur the Banyana Banyana to retain their continental crown, Soccernet.ng reports.
Banyana Banyana won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time in 2022, after defeating Nigeria’s Super Falcons in the group stage.
Nigeria were the defending champions at that tournament in Morocco and, for two years, the Super Falcons have lived with the disappointment of losing their crown.
The nine-time African champions look on course to be the queens of the continent again, after impressing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup last year and qualifying for this year’s Olympic Games in Paris.
South Africa were the losers that time, as the Super Falcons defeated the Banyana Banyana across two legs to punch their spot at Paris 2024.
Having failed to secure what would have been their third appearance at the Olympics, South Africa have turned their attention to the WAFCON.
The number-two ranked nation on the continent would likely have to get past Africa’s number one to lay their hands again on the coveted trophy but Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies midfielder Biyana says South Africa will be ready for the challenge.
“We are preparing for the AFCON tournament which is a difficult one because we won it the last time,” Biyana said as per iDiski Times.
“So we have to try and do it again. I think that’s going to be very tough. I went through the games of Senegal it’s not going to be an easy one. They are a very physical side and they are very quick.
“But we are looking forward to the game because we haven’t played since the Olympics [qualifiers] and we have a new team and there’s a lot that we need to prove after missing out on the Olympics.
“I think for me the most important thing is to try and improve from the games I played before. For the team, we need to try and win the games given that we missed out on the Olympics. We must make sure that we deliver and give South Africa something to smile about.
“But like we said we are building on a new phase, we are focusing on the next task which is the AFCON. So it is important that we plan well heading into those African Cup games.”
While South Africa are meddling around playing friendlies, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are preparing to face world champions Spain, Brazil, and Japan at the Olympics this summer.