Banyana Banyana trio Thembi Kgatlana, Janine Van Wyk and Lebohang Ramalepe have all been included in the Team of the Tournament after impressive displays throughout the African Women’s Cup of Nations.
Kgatlana, who was also voted player of the tournament after scoring a tournament high five goals for Banyana, was an easy inclusion for the selectors of the accolade.
The South African captain Van Wyk was a rock at the back for Desriee Ellis’ team and her leadership was one of the driving forces in the teams run to the final and was rightly selected to take her place in the tournaments best 11.
Here is the @CAF_Online Best XI of the tournament
Goalkeeper
OluehiDefenders
Ramalepe
Ebi
Van Wyk
TchenoMidfielders
Feudjio
Ndoumbouk
AddoForwards
Toure
Kgatlana
Aboudi Onguene #TotalAWCON18 pic.twitter.com/AaRbWWLK24— Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (@CAF_AWCON) December 1, 2018
Right-back Ramalepe, also impressed throughout the campaign and played a starring role to help her team qualify for the Fifa Women’s World Cup for the first time in history.
There were also two South Africans included on the bench as goalkeeper Kaylin Swart and midfielder Linda Motlhalo were selected amongst the back-ups.
The strong South African contingent in the team of the tournament is a strong testament to the impact had by Ellis, who will now be looking to make more history by leading Banyana to their first ever World Cup in France next year.
Thembi Kgatlana has been voted Woman Player of the Tournament after scoring 5 goals in the 2018 Women’s AFCON in Ghana for @Banyana_Banyana she won 3 consecutive Woman of the Match awards. Was nominated for the @CAF_Online Female Footballer for 2018 @SAFA_net @SasolSA pic.twitter.com/r0aG32AJgD
— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) December 2, 2018
Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix