Ellis picks experienced South Africa Women’s Afcon squad

Head Coach of South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, Desiree Ellis, has revealed her final list of 21 players for the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Ghana.

The 11^th edition of the flagship women’s football showpiece will begin on November 17 and end December 1 with Accra and Cape Coast as host cities.

South Africa are making their 12^th appearance in this tournament and will be seeking to snatch one of the three slots available for the 2019 Fifa Women’s World Cup to be held in France as well as the coveted title.

The Cameroon 2016 semifinalists hope to achieve their targets with a squad majority of whom have been together for a long time and had previous Afcon experiences.

Only two players – Amanda Mthandi (University of Johannesburg) and Tiisetso Makhubela (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies – in the final squad are yet to be capped by South Africa.

Coach Desiree Ellis will travel with 25 players to Ghana on November 9 but the four standby players; Kholosa Biyana, Rachel Sebati, Thato Letsoso and Hilda Magaia will return to South Africa after the friendly if there’s no injury update in camp.

“It was a difficult task to pin down the final 21 players as they all raised their hands to show how much they want to be part of this magnificent team. But I am confident that the players we have chosen will do the business for South Africa. Too many times we have close to winning the tournament and I think with the preparations we have had, we feel ready for the competition,” said coach Ellis.

Banyana Banyana will engage Ghana in a friendly at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 11.

Housed in Group B, South Africa will play Nigeria on the November 18 and Kenya on November 21 at the Cape Coast Stadium before a final group game against Zambia at the Accra Sports Stadium on November 24.

Final Squad below: