Andile Dlamini is approaching the Women's World Cup as an Africa Cup of Nations winner - but a heart problem kept her out of football for six months in 2021
"At that point in time, it was my mum and her belief that I'd be OK - and thinking of the Champions League every day," she says.The Sundowns did not concede a goal across their five matches as theyWhen she was named player of the match following her side's penalty shootout win over Hasaacas Ladies in the semi-finals, Dlamini dedicated the victory to her mother and reflected on how she had struggled to breathe, eat and drink months earlier.
Dlamini won the tournament's best goalkeeper award, as she had done in the 2021 African Champions League."More recognition, more respect, more love from people - being treated professionally. They knew there was a goalkeeper called Andile but now they understand that she plays for the national team and she is currently the best goalkeeper in Africa.
"That's what I want to see change - getting more sponsors in the women's game so that the girls can also make a living out of a football career," she hopes.'We are not big-headed'