Banyana Banyana have been named Team of the Year in the fourth edition at of the African Union Sports Council Region at the 2019 Regional Annual Sports Awards (Rasa).

The South African Women’s national team have now claimed their third Team of the Year award in two years after they were crowned Caf Team of the Year in 2017, and followed that up with the National Team of the Year in 2018 at the South African Sports Awards.

Banyana Banyana faced stiff competition from the Botswana 4 x 400 metres Men’s Relay team and the Netball team of Malawi for the award at the Rasa gala, which took place in Windhoek, Namibia, on Saturday evening.

The awards are made up of 12 categories to recognise athletes, coaches, member countries, regional confederations, journalists and teams that have produced outstanding performances in sport at regional and international level.

The winners in ten of these categories are selected through a voting process, with the confederation of the year and country of the year being selected through an adjudication panel.

Desiree Ellis’ side are currently in France as they continue their preparations for the upcoming Fifa Women’s World Cup, where they will take on Spain in their opening fixture at Stade Oceane on 8 June.