SAFA Sends Banyana Players Home After Boycotting Final Fixture Before World Cup

• Banyana Banyana threatened to boycott their game against Botswana due to concerns over the stadium
• Banyana were due to play their final game before the FIFA's Women's World Cup at the Tsakane Stadium
• The South African Football Association has sent the team home and replaced them with a new side

South African football has been rocked by more drama.

The South African Football Association sent the women’s national team home after refusing to play their send-off match ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

SAFA announced last week that the team would take on Botswana in their final game before they leave for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The game was scheduled to take place at 3 pm on Sunday, July 2, at the Tsakane Stadium.

Banyana boycott unsafe Tsakane Stadium

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As noted by SABC Sport, the players threatened to boycott the game because of the condition of the pitch at the stadium, wanting a more suitable venue for their final fixture. Players are concerned that they risk picking up injuries by playing at the stadium and could potentially miss out on the global tournament.

The stadium was closed on two separate occasions because it was deemed unsuitable for official matches.

SAFA take action against Banyana

SAFA then demanded that the players honour the fixture or risk being sent home.

With Banyana refusing to budge, SAFA has reportedly assembled a team of 20 players to take on Botswana. This was done to ensure that South Africa don’t know-show the game.

Banyana want FIFA's intervention

SABC Sport also confirmed that Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa pleaded with South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) to convince Banyana’s stars to honour the game.

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SAFPU have since posted a video on social media, confirming that the side were replaced by a makeshift side and tagging FIFA in the post, wanting more eyes on the current situation.

SAFA pay Banyana WAFCON bonus

The South African Football Association has kept its promise regarding Banyana Banyana.

The local football governing body has paid the senior women's national team the R400 000-plus bonus to each squad member who returned with the Women's Africa Cup of Nations trophy from Morocco.

The winnings included an initial R9.2 million pot of gold presented as an incentive by SAFA before the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture opened the purse strings by adding R5.8 million to this amount, Sports Brief reported.