Janine van Wyk prematurely stated her retirement after the previous squad was announced
However, she is one cap away from equalling the record for most caps by an African footballer
Banyana coach Desiree Ellis included van Wyk in her squad to meet Burkina Faso this month

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After the heartbreak, there comes one more chance. Janine van Wyk is chasing a record and has been granted another career-defining opportunity by Desiree Ellis.

Van Wyk is already the most capped female footballer in Africa, but with two more she can call herself the most capped player, regardless of gender.

Janine van Wyk, WAFCOn qualifiers, Desiree Ellis. — Janine van Wyk was given another chance to reach the Africa appearances record after being named in Banyana Banyana's squad for two matches against Burkina Faso. Photo: @fishmahlangu/BackPagePix.
Source: Twitter

The matriarch of women's football, Van Wyk said a teary goodbye prior to her expected appearance against the DRC in the Olympic qualifiers earlier this month.

A game that was tighter than expected led to the South African defender staying on the bench and ultimately leaving the camp before the second fixture.

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Her selection for the Burkina Faso ties have reignited her chances at history. Van Wyk has 183 caps, one short of Egyptian record-holder, Ahmed Hassan.

Banyana Banyana coach, Ellis has named a 24-woman squad to face Burkina Faso in two Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on November 30 and December 5.

South Africa travel to Burkina Faso for the first game before returning home to play the second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Demonstrating the strength of the Banyana squad, Sundowns Ladies managed six players in the CAF Women's Champions League Best XI, but Ellis only has room for four.

The squad has six foreign-based players including Jermaine Seoposenwe and Faith Nokutula, who was in the starting line-up for Blackburn Rovers when they lost 7-0 to Alisha Lehmann's Aston Villa on November 22.

Andile Dlamini will expect to start in goal and fans will hope to see the likes of JVW FC's Gabrella Salgado, Glasgow City's Linda Motlhalo, and Racing Louisville's Thembi Kgatlana.

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