Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana will face Jamaica in an internatinal friendly match scheduled for the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
The historic clash, which will serve as a part of preparations for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in June in France, will take place on Sunday, 7 April 2019.
Kickoff is at 15h00.
Both countries have qualified for their maiden World Cup and will be meeting for the first time ever.
The two countries share some similarities in that they will be going to their first ever FIFA World Cup tournament in France – their male counterparts did the same in 1998, also in France.
Jamaica is ranked 53rdin the world with South Africa five spots ahead at 48.
The match will also be used as a farewell fixture for Banyana Banyana as this will be their last game on home soil before the world football showpiece in France.
“It is good that we return to Durban for this all-important clash, and this time for a celebration as this will be our farewell match on home soil. We are honoured to be playing at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium – our first time ever. The venue gives our players a taste of what to expect in France,” said Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis.
“We urge all our fans – in and around Durban – to come in numbers to support us on this great occasion. This will be a great celebration as we will be playing fellow FIFA World Cup debutants, which makes this match extra special.”
The former captain of the South African Senior Women’s National Team will be in Durban next week to kickstart the proceedings.
Having hosted Bafana Bafana on many occassions before, this will be the first time Banyana Banyana get to play at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, which was used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
“We are privilidged to welcome the World Cup-bound Banyana Banyana at the Moses Mabhida Stadium. This is a great honour for us to be hosting them in their final match in South Africa before they head off to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France,” said Vusi Mazibuko, General Manager of the Moses Mabhida Stadium.
“We can’t wait to have them here at our venue, which has hosted several big matches before, and we will pull out all stops to ensure they enjoy their celebrations. Entrance will be free to the match and we will be making announcements in the next few days about tickets distribution points. We urge the football loving fans to join us on this special occasion.”
The match also coincides with the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophy tour which will be taking place in Durban during that period.
Banyana Banyana’s next fixture will be in May when they face the USA, who are currently the number one ranked country in women’s football.
The clash with the World Champions, will be played on Sunday, 12 May 2019 at the Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California (South of San Francisco).
The match also forms part of the USA’s World Cup preparations.
At the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, South Africa has been drawn in Group B alongside Spain, Germany and China.
FACT FILE JAMAICA
- Jamaica’s Senior Women’s National Football Team, the Reggae Girlz, has qualified for the World Cup, making history on the island and beyond
- Reaching the FIFA Women’s World Cup was not only a first for Jamaica – the Reggae Girlz became the first Caribbean team to qualify for the tournament
- The players celebrated their historic win by singing Jamaica’s national anthem after the match
- The Reggae Boyz, Jamaica’s men’s national team, famously qualified for the FIFA Men’s World Cup in 1998, which was also in France (like Bafana Bafana who qualified for their first FIFA World Cup in the same year).
FACT FILE MOSES MABHIDA STADIUM
- TheMoses Mabhida Stadium is a stadium in Durban, South Africa
- It is named after Moses Mabhida, a former General Secretary of the South African Communist Party
- It is a multi-use stadium– can be used for several events, like bungee jumping, concerts, cricket, football, golf practice, motorsports and rugby
- It was one of the host stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup
- The stadium has a capacity of 62,760
- The stadium is adjacent to the Kings Park Stadium
