The team is now making its second appearance at the Women’s World Cup, but 30 years ago, the “Banyana Banyana” was playing its first ever match as a nation emerging from apartheid. Fans have got behind the women's team which has grown from strength to strength. Progress still neededIn 2018, with former captain Ellis now coaching, Banyana Banyana reached the final of WAFCON, only losing to serial winner Nigeria on penalties. That appearance in the final also qualified the team for its first ever World Cup appearance in 2019 in France. Banyana Banyana can now focus fully on the FIFA Women’s World Cup, knowing that their immediate concerns have been addressed.”South African players celebrate after taking the lead in their Women's World Cup Group G soccer match against Sweden, though the Banyana Bayana ultimately lost 2-1.

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Persons: ”, –, “, Dara Carroll, Phill Magakoe, Fran Hilton, Smith, White, Alet Pretorius, Desiree Ellis –, Nelson Mandela, Terry Paine, Paine, Ellis, Desiree Ellis, Anesh Debiky, Ellis wasn’t, weren’t, Hilton, Carroll, we’ve, ” Carroll, Banyana Banyana, SAFPU, Culture Zizi, Bayana, Andrew Cornaga Organizations: CNN, South Africa women’s, soccer, Africa, of Nations, South Africa’s, CNN Sport, South, Getty, Springboks, Swaziland, South African Women Association, of African Football, CAF, FIFA, interprovincial, Soweto Ladies Football Club, Hilton, Southampton, Wits University, Sports , Arts, Culture, Sweden, Wellington Regional Locations: South Africa, Morocco, White, Swaziland, Johannesburg, AFP, “, South Africa’s, England, Cape Town, Nigeria, France, Botswana, SAFA, South, New Zealand, Sweden