Banyana Banyana’s ‘key weapon’ against Sweden speaks

Banyana Banyana striker Hildah Magaia will be key if Desiree Ellis’s charges are to get anything out of their opening World Cup match.

Banyana kick-off their World Cup campaign against third-ranked Sweden in Group G at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Sunday morning at 7am.

Magaia played football in Sweden for two years before moving to South Korea. Although she left the Swedish league a year ago, the 28-year-old still holds some invaluable insights about their national team which could help Banyana.

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Banyana forward has some insights about the Swedes

The team goes into the opening game full of confidence following their 2-0 win against Costa Rica.

“I could say that the free-kick (against Costa Rica) has given me a lot of confidence going into the first game. It was a motivation that proved that I could do anything,” Magaia said.

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“I believe that I still have some insights about the Swedes, and I believe that if we can use that as a team, we’ll be able to get the result that we want,” she said this week.

Sweden are favourites to win the opener

“Even though things have changed (after leaving Sweden), I still carry some insights, and I remember how they play and all that.”

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“The motivation that I take from the Wafcon is the continuation from what I and the team did,” she said.

Banyana face faces Sweden in their opening game on Sunday before doing battle with Argentina on July 28. South Africa’s final group G match is against Italy on August 2.

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