Banyana drawn with strong sides for 2019
Banyana Banyana were grouped with Germany, China and Spain in the 2019 Fifa Women's World Cup draw in Paris on Saturday night.
The team, who qualified for France 2019 as last weekend's finalists in the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations (Awcon), will have their work cut out progressing past the group stage of their first World Cup.
Germany, the 2003 and 2007 world champions, are the powerhouse team in Group B.
Spain are playing in just their second tournament. China are playing in their sixth World Cup, their best finish coming as runners-up in 1999.
SA may have never competed in a World Cup, but do have a yardstick for their abilities on a global stage from the last two Olympics, at London 2012 and Rio 2016.
They exited both in the first round, but showed signs of progression from Great Britain to Brazil four years later.
In 2012 under Joseph Mkhonza SA lost 4-1 against Sweden and 3-0 against Canada, but recovered to a creditable 0-0 draw against Japan, that year's 2-1 finalist losers against the USA.
In 2016 Banyana lost 2-1 against eventual losing finalists Sweden, and 2-0 against China, then drew 0-0 against fourthplaced finishers Brazil. 2019 draw:
Group A: France, South Korea, Norway, Nigeria
Group B: Germany, China, Spain, South Africa
Group C: Australia, Italy, Brazil, Jamaica
Group D: England, Scotland, Argentina, Japan
Group E: Canada, Cameroon, New Zealand, Netherlands
Group F: USA, Thailand, Chile, Sweden
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