2022 Total Energies Africa Women’s Cup of Nations champions Banyana Banyana showed their appreciation as crowds gathered in numbers to welcome the South Africans back home at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, 26 July.
There was an electrifying vibe at the airport terminals as head coach Desiree Ellis and her charges landed in Mzansi after an outstanding continental campaign in Morocco.
Supporters streamed in from early parts of Tuesday morning, geared in their South African colours, and proudly waving the country’s flag in both song and dance – spirits were high as celebrations were certainly the order of the day.
Welcome to a vibrant OR Tambo International Airport as we welcome #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 champions @Banyana_Banyana 🤩 stay tuned to @gsport4girls for latest updates! pic.twitter.com/vUeHvFgEgr
— gsport4girls (@gsport4girls) July 26, 2022
Speaking at the official ceremony on arrival, an emotional Ellis said to the crowd: “This team is incredible! These players are amazing. Before we even left for the tournament, we had a meeting and I asked them what their ambitions are. Jermaine Seoposenwe said, “We want to win AWCON!
“I said to Jermaine first the World Cup qualification and her response, “No, if we win AWCON we will still qualify for the World Cup,” they were so confident!”
On their journey to victory, Banyana Banyana encountered various challenges, which they managed to overcome.
“During the tournament, we faced a couple of challenges. We lost Thembi (Kgatlana due to injury), we had a couple of Covid cases, and the South African Football Association came through for us big time!
“Every time when people thought we were down and out, this team raised the levels. Our President Dr Danny Jordaan always says that we must bring hope to the nation because back home I know that you were going through load shedding and some of you might have not seen the game but we felt the love, we felt the support and most of all we felt the prayers.”
The team’s co-captain Refiloe Jane echoed her coach’s sentiments, saying: “It’s good to see each and every one of you here. We are very grateful for the support that you have shown us throughout the tournament, it means a lot to us!
“We are hoping that you are very happy for what we did for the nation because we are happy as a team. We are really excited to see all of you here!” she concluded.
Click here to read on Sport Minister Nathi Mthethwa handing over a cheque to Banyana Banyana
Photo 1 Caption: 2022 Total Energies Africa Women’s Cup of Nations champions Banyana Banyana showed their appreciation as crowds gathered in numbers to welcome the South Africans back home at OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday, 26 July.
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