Pressure? Not at all! Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart reveals they are ready for WAFCON title defence - 'That’s when we will play at our best'

Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart believes that South Africa are ready for the CAF African Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence campaign.

Banyana are the defending champions, and naturally, they will be under pressure to produce another successful campaign in Morocco.

However, Swart said pressure is not a problem for them because they are mature and can operate in such an environment.

“I always say pressure is a privilege, and I think when our backs are against the wall, that’s when we really perform. And I will back this team 100% all the time," Swart told Safa.net.

“And yeah, there is a little bit of pressure being champions because, I mean, that title holds a lot of weight, but I know that once we start the tournament, that pressure is not going to get to us because we know what it’s going to take and how we’ve grown so much individually," she added.

“We’re much more mature now, and I think the coaches can also see how much we’ve grown. And so yeah, that pressure, I think that’s when we will play at our best, but I don’t think that pressure will get to us. But yeah, I’m just excited to see how well we do.”

Swart is hopeful that Banyana can recreate the 2022 campaign where they emerged as winners and defend the title, although she believes it is not going to be an easy ride at all.

“There are such great memories in Morocco. I mean, we were in Rabat in 2022, and now we are in Casablanca, but yeah, the feeling is the same," she added.

“We’re very excited to be here because it’s familiar territory for us. And yeah, hopefully all that excitement can come back from 2022, and hopefully we can do it again," Swart continued.

“But now we’ve got to obviously write a new book, and there’s a lot more to be done, but if we can repeat history, that would be great, but you know it’s not going to be easy. But yeah, 2024 [2025] might just be a really good chapter for us."

Banyana's preparations for the continental campaign have been overshadowed by a number of issues, including reports about boycotts because of wage disputes.

The exclusion of experienced Thembi Kgatlana for this year's finals is another issue that has clouded the women's national team's preparations. With 31 goals in 82 matches for Banyana, the forward has been a dependable figure for the team for years, but her services will not be available for coach Desiree Ellis in Morocco.

Meanwhile, forward Jermaine Seoposenwe has joined her teammates in Casablanca, but Kgaelebane Mohlakoana is the only player still to arrive due to club commitments.

Banyana are in Casablanca for their pre-tournament preparations and will leave for Oujda, where they will play their Group C games against Ghana, Tanzania, and Mali.

The defending champions will start their campaign against Ghana on July 7 before they face Tanzania on July 11. Ellis' charges will tackle Mali on July 14, which will be their last group game.