Goal.com South African Women’s Soccer Team
The most important in this week’s headlines out of and about Africa, for those who need help catching up
In this week’s news, the U.S. Women’s soccer team to face South Africa in a highly anticipated friendly, bakers in Burkina Faso go on strike and Zimbabwe frees protestors.
U.S. to take on South Africa In preparation for Brazil Olympics
The 2016 Olympics in Brazil are just a few weeks away.
In preparation, the U.S. Women’s National Team or WNT has been training by playing friendlies with the national teams of other countries. The preparations that have been styled as a “send-off” for the American team have thus far involved matches with countries around the world, including Ireland, Japan and Columbia.
On July 9, they will face off against the South African Women’s National team or Banyanya Banyanya in Chicago, USA.
“The match against South Africa will be the first meeting between the two countries in women’s international play and also just the second African country the USA has faced in its history. The Americans have played Nigeria four times, all in World Cup or Olympic competition,” according to U.S. Soccer, the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the USA.
Bakers in Burkina Faso Protest Poor Conditions
Bakers in Burkina Faso went on a three-day strike this week to protest work conditions. They came to the Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Wellfare to voice their concerns. They hope that the strike convinces employers to improve working conditions and allow association between workers, among other concerns.
The strike has resulted in a shortage of bread in the country, particularly in the capital of Ouagadougou. The workers say that they will continue to protest and voice their concerns if their demands are not met.
Anti-Mugabe Protestors Released on Bail
Fifeteen anti-Mugabe protestors in Zimbabwe were released on bail this week. The protestors were arrested during a vigil at Africa Unity Square earlier in the week, and were officially charged with robbery and the obstruction of justice.
The protestors were calling for Mugabe, who has been in power for several decades, to step down as President.Among those arrested were a journalist, and an activist, Patson Dzamara, whose brother, Itai, is believed to have been abducted by the military last year.
