FIXTURES:
Sunday, August 6
South Africa v Netherlands (5am)
Sweden v United States of America (12noon)
South Africa’s women national team, the Banyana Banyana, face The Netherlands on Sunday, August 6 at the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as they aim to become the first African country to reach the quarterfinals.
The round-of-16 game will be played at the Allianz stadium in Sydney, Australia
To reach the round-of-16, South Africa, who are the reigning African champions, defeated Italy (3-2), drew 2-2 with Argentina and lost (1-2) to Sweden to emerge as runners-up from Group G with four points. Sweden topped the group with nine points.
Skipper Thembi Kgatlana, who scored an injury-time winner in the 3-2 victory over Italy on August 3 to send the Banyana Banyana to the last-16, will still be the player to watch out for against the Dutch.
On the other hand, The Netherlands finished top of Group E with seven points after thrashing Vietnam 7-0, beating Portugal 1-0 and drawing 1-1 with the United States of America.
Going into Sunday’s match against South Africa, the Dutch are the bookmakers’ hot favourites.
The other African nations still in the running at the World Cup are Morocco and Nigeria, who will be in action on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Nigeria face England on Monday, August 7 while Morocco take on France on Tuesday, August 8.