Cape Town is representing – no fewer than five Cape Town players will join in as the South African U17 women’s national team, Bantwana, prepares to face Nigeria in the second round of the 2025 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Bantwana will host Nigeria at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Tshwane tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 8 February 2025), before traveling to West Africa for the return leg a week later.

As has been the case for decades, Cape Town is well-represented in the squad, with five players from the region earning call-ups: Holly Gerber (Stellenbosch FC), Kiara Foerg (Salt River Blackpool), Anathi Nqothani (Dangerous Heroes), Siyamthanda Macingwana (Cape Town Roses), and Zoe October (Spurs Women Football Club).

SAFA Cape Town’s Head of Competitions, Bayanda Sikiti, commended the national team coaches for scouting talent across the country and providing young players with such opportunities.

“The selection of these five players is a huge achievement for Cape Town football,” Sikiti said. “We have always wanted to see our young girls given chances like this. We hope they perform well in the training camp and secure spots in the final team for the qualifiers against Nigeria. We wish them all the best.”

Training Camp Preparations

Bantwana assembled for a week-long training camp from 16–22 February 2025 as part of their preparations for the crucial second-round qualifier against Nigeria on 8 and 15 March 2025.

Head coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo had expressed satisfaction with the camp’s progress, emphasizing the importance of refining the squad ahead of their battle against the formidable Flamingos of Nigeria.

“The camp went very well,” Khumalo noted. “Our main focus was reinforcing key areas, particularly the midfield. We were looking for strong, competitive players who can match up against Nigeria.” 

There were challenges, of course, but overall, Khumalo was pleased with the talent on display, revealing that four new players had been identified as potential additions to the final squad.

“In U17 football, there are many areas to improve on—both individually and as a team. However, what stood out from this camp was the talent, and I was also happy with the fitness levels of the new players. They are in great condition, and I’m confident we will have a strong team for the upcoming matches.”

Nationwide Talent Search

Prio to the camp Khumalo, alongside assistant coach Rhoda Mulaudzi, had been crossing the country to scout players who may have been overlooked. Their efforts included a visit to Cape Town and open trial session on 15 February 2025 at the SAFA Technical Centre in Gauteng.

“We want to ensure that talented players who aren’t part of elite leagues still get a chance to prove themselves,” she said.

Bantwana will be looking to build on their dominant 21-2 aggregate victory over Gabon in the first round as they push to qualify for their third FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.

With a mix of seasoned talent and fresh prospects, the South African U17 women’s team is eager to make their mark in the upcoming qualifiers.