Banyana Banyana’s 2019 FIFA World Cup experience crucial - Fran Hilton-Smith

The African champions will compete in their second world championship in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July to 20 August 2023.

Hilton-Smith says coach Desiree Ellis’ charges stand a better chance of doing well in the tournament due to their experience at the 2019 showpiece in France.

"For me, it's truly wonderful to see Banyana qualifying for their second World Cup. I think now they have all those nerves under the belt and we hope to see them really getting into this World Cup. Of course the dream for everyone is that they can proceed in the World Cup and make themselves and the country proud," she said.

South Africa, Nigeria, Morocco and Zambia are the four nations representing Africa at this global showpiece.

Zambia and Morocco will make their debuts, while South Africa qualified for back-to-back World Cups and Nigeria have not missed out on the tournament since its inception in 1991.

Hilton-Smith has worked extensively to see more African participants in the World Cup.

"When we first started with the national team in 1993 and right throughout the 90s, we only had one African participant and that was generally Nigeria and through much motivation to FIFA when I was at FIFA committees, we pushed to get more African representatives. Now, it's really wonderful to see that we have four countries from Africa at the World Cup."

The 67-year-old adds that coach Ellis’ squad should consist largely of experienced players who previously played in the World Cup, won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and play in competitive leagues around the world.

"Well for our World Cup team going to this World Cup obviously the experienced that the players gained at the WAFCON which of course South Africa won and at the previous World Cup in France. I think experience is a key factor and also now we have many players who are playing professional football in top countries around the world. This really counts for a lot, to have that professionalism. So, it will be expected that the bulk of the team are players who have experience."