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OSAKA – Sasol Banyana Banyana have touched down in Japan to commence a demanding two-match friendly series against the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions. The tour serves as a critical phase of preparation for the South African senior women’s national team ahead of the upcoming 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The team will face Nadeshiko Japan—currently ranked fifth in the world and fresh off their 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup victory—in the first encounter on Saturday, 6 June, at the Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium. A second fixture will follow on Tuesday, 9 June, at the J-Green Sakai facility.
Both matches offer head coach Dr. Desiree Ellis a high-level test for her squad against top-tier international opposition.
“Of course, two big games against Japan ranked number five in the world, they’re also the current Asian champions. We know the qualities that they have, they will really challenge us in a different way to what Algeria did,” Ellis noted. “As we prepare for the WAFCON, these are the type of challenges we want, to be able to see what we still need to work on.”
The technical team has identified tempo, defensive organization, and final-third efficiency as primary areas for assessment during this tour.
The 23-player squad features the return of experienced overseas-based duo Thembi Kgatlana and Bongeka Gamede, who missed the April camp, alongside Isabella Ludwig and Asanda Hadebe. Gamede and Scotland-based midfielder Linda Motlhalo linked up with the traveling party in Dubai en route to Osaka.
While the squad is bolstered by these returns, they will navigate the series without Lebohang Ramalepe due to academic commitments, as well as Amogelang Motau, Hildah Magaia, and Shakira O’Malley, who are recovering from injuries.
Banyana Banyana arrive in Japan carrying momentum from back-to-back April victories over Algeria. However, the ultimate focus remains on the rescheduled WAFCON tournament, which will take place from 25 July to 16 August. South Africa, drawn into Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania, will be looking to secure a top-four finish to guarantee qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
After a lengthy journey exceeding 20 hours, the 2022 African champions have settled into their hotel in Osaka. The squad is scheduled to conduct their first training session on Wednesday afternoon to acclimatize ahead of Saturday’s 08:50 AM (SAST) opening whistle.
Fixture Details:
- Match 1: Saturday, 6 June – Yanmar Hanasaka Stadium, Osaka (15:50 Local / 08:50 SAST)
- Match 2: Tuesday, 9 June – J-Green Sakai, Osaka (15:30 Local / 08:30 SAST)
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