By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Banyana Banyana have been drawn in tough Group G for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
Banyana will have cope with heavyweights Sweden and Italy along with accomplished Argentina.
Their opponents’ respective rankings paint a vivid picture of the magnitude of South Africa’s task.
Sweden are currently considered the second best team in the world and are only marginally below defending world champions and leaders the USA.
Meanwhile, Italy are ranked 14th and while the Argentinians aren’t quite as pedigreed as their male counterparts, they’re just two spots off their best ranking in 29th.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is being held across nine cities in Australia and New Zealand between July 20 and Aug. 20, with the final being held in the 83,500-capacity Stadium Australia in Sydney.
The draw at a glance:
GROUP A
New Zealand
Norway
Philippines
Switzerland
GROUP B
Australia
Republic of Ireland
Nigeria
Canada
GROUP C
Spain
Costa Rica
Zambia
Japan
GROUP D
England
Group B playoff (Chile, Haiti or Senegal)
Denmark
China
GROUP E
United States
Vietnam
Netherlands
Group A playoff (Cameroon, Portugal or Thailand)
GROUP F
France
Jamaica
Brazil
Group C playoff (Chinese Taipei, Panama, Papua New Guinea or Paraguay)
GROUP G
Sweden
South Africa
Italy
Argentina
GROUP H
Germany
Morocco
Colombia
South Korea.