Fran Hilton-Smith: Banyana Banyana need to have pre-WAFCON camp

Coach Desiree Ellis’ charges were drawn in Group C, alongside Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in the 15th edition of the continental showpiece in Morocco this July.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Hilton-Smith believes the final camp should be an opportunity to realign overseas-based players with local players in order to fine-tune tactics as well as physical and mental fitness.

"It's definitely going to some proper preparation to ensure the team is ready for this massive competition – we need a long camp prior to the tournament in Morocco," said Hilton-Smith.

"During that camp, we need to have some friendlies against top opposition that will really test the players' ability in finalising the team for the WAFCON.

"Also, coach [Ellis] needs to have the overseas-based players in that camp so that they can start looking at their tactical preparations, and they need to have mental fitness taken into consideration as well so that they are properly prepared to defend their title."

Nigeria remains the most successful nation in the history of the tournament since its inception in 1998, winning 11 of the 14 editions so far. 

The veteran administrator believes the Super Falcons are one of the teams, alongside Morocco and Zambia, that have the capacity to hinder Banyana’s success this year.

"I think we certainly have to look at the big guns – Morocco, who came second; Zambia, who came third; and of course Nigeria – all these teams now have new coaches," she added.

"So I think these are going to be the competitors we have to watch out for, we have to study them, but in a tournament you can never discount any of the other teams – there are no weak teams anymore, so we have to prepare accordingly."

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