Finally, an 11-year-old African record has been broken as Banyana Banyana star Janine Van Wyk is now Africa’s most-capped international footballer of all time.
Van Wyk received her 185th cap for South Africa on Monday in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON qualifier against Burkina Faso.
She is now the most capped footballer, male or female, on the continent. The former Egyptian international, Ahmed Hassan, held the record of the most capped player in Africa for over a decade.
Van Wyk, who made her debut for Banyana 18 years ago, has confirmed her imminent retirement.
Last month the defender featured for the very last time in domestic football, for the HollywoodBets Super League where she featured for JVW, a club she formed in 2012.
This match against Burkina Faso serves as the 36-year-old’s final dance as a player wearing the national team colours one last time.
Meanwhile Banyana have qualified for WAFCON after beating their opponents 2-0 (3-1 aggregate) at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.
Linda Motlhalo converted from the penalty spot in the 56th minute and the second goal came as courtesy of Nicole Michael.
Next year’s tournament will be held in Morocco, becoming the first country to host back-to-back WAFCON editions.
