“The entire country must be behind them and as government we are fully supporting them. We will support them from the beginning of the tournament to the end,” he said.

Zuma also urged the nation to bring back Football Fridays by wearing the national team jersey.

The President received a blazer from the South African Football Association (SAFA) for accepting to be the patron of the tournament.

Banyana won the match against Zimbabwe 4-0. In the dying minutes of the first half, Noko Matlou put Banyana in the lead. Three more goals came in the second half through Popela Mamphashe, Amanda Dlamini and Jermaine Seoposenwe.

The 7th edition of the CAF AWC will kick-off with the opening Group A match between Bafana Bafana and Tanzania at Sinaba Stadium on 31 October  at 1pm.

The tournament, which will take place in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, will end on November 14, with the two finalists qualifying for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.  

They will then lock horns with Africa's powerhouse Nigeria on 4 November at 11am and Mali on 7 November at 3.30pm.

Meanwhile, Nomvula Masilela has been selected to officiate at the CAF AWC. Masilela is an elite assistant referee who is with the National Refereeing Panel.

She was appointed as an official for the CAF women’s competition after attending a high level referees’ course in Egypt recently.

The chairperson of the National Referees Committee, Alpha Mchunu, described Masilela’s appointment as groundbreaking for SAFA.

“We hope this appointment will inspire a lot of upcoming female officials,” he said.

Acting Head of the Referees Department, Adeel Carelse, also lauded Masilela’s appointment.

According to Carelse, it shows progress in terms of empowering female referees. He added that SAFA is going ahead with its policy of gender equality. - BuaNews