Banyana to face USA in matches to be played in Cincinnati and Chicago

African champions Banyana Banyana will face the No1 ranked U.S. women’s national team in matches to be played in Cincinnati and Chicago in September 2023.

The current FIFA Women’s World Cup champions will host coach Desiree Ellis’ charges in Cincinnati at TQL Stadium on 21 September 2023, and in Chicago at Soldier Field on 24 September 2023.

Ellis said her Sasol-sponsored charges are excited at the news and cannot wait to face the No1 ranked Americans in their own backyard.

“This is really exciting news, getting to play the U.S. women’s national team so soon after the World Cup. We have played them twice before in 2016 and in 2019, and now we get another opportunity to test ourselves against the best, but this time as African champions,” she said.

“We are all looking forward to these two exciting encounters to show how much we have grown as a team, and we thank SAFA and Sasol for once again getting us quality opposition. But for now we are concentrating on the World Cup.”

The two sides will be coming from participating in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand when they face off in September. The USA will be making its ninth appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup while the South Africans will be making their second.

“The focus right now is of course on the World Cup, but to get two great matches in our first games back in the USA in two stadiums that are really fun to play in will be awesome for our players and the fans,” said U.S. coach Vlatko Andonovski. “South Africa has talented players so I’m sure these will be two entertaining games.”

Source: South African Football Association