Speaking exclusively to KickOff, Banyana Banyana attacker Jermaine Seoposenwe, who will be playing her final WAFCON, has shared her thoughts on readiness for the defence of their title.
On Monday, head coach Desiree Ellis unveiled a 26-player strong squad to represent South Africa at the upcoming Women's Africa Cup of Nations finals to be played in Morocco.
The squad will be later trimmed down to 21, but 24 of the 26 players have all flown to Morocco, where Banyana have set up camp. Youngsters Casey Gordon and Nthabiseng Majiya are on standby.
READ | Jane, Seoposenwe, but no Kgatlana: Ellis names final WAFCON squad
Having lifted the title in 2022, Banyana went into this edition as the team to beat. However, striker Seoposenwe, who will be playing her final Wafcon, insists that the tag of 'title defenders' does not put pressure on the squad.
"No, we are not under pressure at all," Seoposenwe told KickOff.
"At the end of the day, it’s the preparation that will dictate who succeeds. If your preparation is not good, you won’t succeed.
"So, for me, I’m not under pressure at all. If I prepare well, I will get there in the best shape possible. I will get there on form.
"So, that’s all I think about. I think if you prepare to the best of your ability, the rest is up to whatever happens.
"There are things you can’t control. That is what I have learned. There are things you think you can control, but you really can’t, so you have to let go of those things."
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Banyana are in Group C alongside Mali, Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania.
Among the 26, Ellis has selected 14 players, including Seoposenwe, who were part of the squad that won South Africa's first-ever Women's Africa Cup of Nations title.
Seoposenwe and Co. will kick-start the defence of that title with a group stage clash against Ghana on 7 July.
Photo: Gallo Images/Dirk Kotze
Read Jermaine Seoposonwe's full interview in the June issue of Kick Off Magazine, available in stores!
