Banyana Banyana begin 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign against Madagascar

Banyana Banyana will begin their bid to return to the Olympics for the first time since 2016 when they face Madagascar in a two-legged second-round qualifier.

The first leg will be played at Free State Stadium on Friday, with the return match also taking place at the venue next Tuesday. Both matches will kick off at 18:00.

Madagascar do not have a CAF-approved stadium for their home fixture, meaning the second leg has been moved to South Africa. The Islanders are ranked 191st in the world, 134 places below Banyana Banyana.

The tie is the first of five rounds in the African qualifying competition for the 2028 Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles from 11-29 July. Thirty countries are involved at the second-round stage.

The 16 teams remaining after this round will contest the third round in February and March next year. The fourth round is scheduled for October, followed by the final phase a month later.

Only two African teams will qualify for the Olympic women’s football tournament.

Ellis retains core of Wafcon squad

Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has retained most of the squad that represented South Africa at the recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Asanda Hadebe, Nthabiseng Majiya, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Siyabulela Holweni and Lebogang Ramalepe are the six players who were part of that group but have been left out for the Madagascar fixtures.

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 newcomer included for the qualifiers.

South Africa have appeared at the Olympics twice. Their first participation came at London 2012, before they returned at Rio de Janeiro 2016.

On both occasions, Banyana Banyana were eliminated during the group stage. They did not qualify for the two most recent editions of the Games and are now aiming to end that absence by reaching Los Angeles 2028.