Queens of the co ntinent
Experience shone through
The squad that lifted the Wafcon title averaged an astonishing 50 caps per player, which highlights the huge amount of experience that has been built up over the last decade or so.
The 23 players have a total of 1,161 caps between them, led by three centurions, which is an average of 50.5 appearances per player.
That international know-how was one of the major reasons why they were able to tough it out in the difficult moments in Morocco and claim the title, not least in the final as they kept their cool after the hosts scored a late goal.
Nine members of the squad have 50+ caps to their name and all bar the injured Thembi Kgatlana (68 caps) and Janine van Wyk (181) started the final.
The goal-scoring hero from the decider, Hildah Magaia, is actually one of the less experienced players, though she took her goals tally to 14 in 21 caps as the 27-year-old showed she has potentially a long career with the national team ahead having been a late bloomer who debuted in 2018.
The three players with more than 100 caps are midfielder Refiloe Jane (127), strikerturned-defender Noko Matlou (166) and Van Wyk (181), who has admitted this will be her last Wafcon.
The likelihood is she will retire at the end of the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023,
