Banyana Banyana begin Olympic qualifying bid against Madagascar

Banyana Banyana will begin their bid to reach the 2028 Olympics when they face Madagascar in the second round of the CAF qualifying competition.

South Africa have missed the past two editions of the Games but are targeting a return to the Olympic tournament in Los Angeles, having last qualified in 2016.

The first leg against Madagascar will take place at Free State Stadium on Friday, with the return fixture also being played at the same venue next Tuesday. Both matches will kick off at 6pm.

Madagascar do not have a CAF-approved stadium available for the home match, meaning the second leg has been moved to Free State Stadium as well. The Islanders are ranked 191st in the world, 134 places below Banyana.

Thirty nations are involved in the second round of the African Olympic qualifiers, which form part of a five-round process.

The 16 teams that progress will meet in the third round, scheduled for February/March next year. The fourth round will be held in October next year, before the final phase takes place a month later.

Only two African nations will qualify for the 2028 Olympics, which are scheduled to be held in Los Angeles from July 11–29.

Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has retained most of the players who featured at the recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco.

The six players left out of the squad to face Madagascar are Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Asanda Hadebe, Nthabiseng Majiya, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Siyabulela Holweni and Lebogang Ramalepe.

Bonolo Mokoma, Cimone Sauls and Sinegugu Zondi return after being omitted from the Wafcon squad. Siyamthanda Qashani, who plays for the University of Pretoria, is the only new addition.

South Africa have appeared at the Olympics twice. Their first participation came at London 2012, followed by Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Banyana were eliminated in the group stage on both occasions. Their upcoming tie with Madagascar therefore represents the opening step in their attempt to qualify for the Games for the first time in 12 years.