The countdown is on. Banyana Banyana are fine-tuning their preparations in Morocco ahead of their opening match of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) against Tanzania – and the 2022 African champions have promised the nation they will not disappoint.
The tournament runs in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August 2026, with South Africa drawn in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania. WAFCON kicks off on Sunday, and Banyana Banyana are in action the very next day, Monday 27 July, against Tanzania.
Settling in under the Moroccan sun
Head coach Dr Desiree Ellis reported that the squad has hit the ground running since arriving in North Africa.
“We’ve had two sessions now trying to acclimatise to the heat as we are coming from a cold South Africa, but fortunately, for now, it’s not as hot as it was last year. We had really good sessions, and now we are looking forward to the rest of the week,” Ellis said.
A squad blending experience and exciting new blood
Ellis has named a final 26-player squad for what will be South Africa’s 14th appearance at the continental showpiece. According to the South African Football Association (SAFA), the technical team has retained the core group of players who have featured for the senior women’s national team in recent matches, with 17 players returning from the WAFCON 2024 squad.
Nine additions have been included for the competition: Katlego Moletsane, Isabella Ludwig, Asanda Hadebe, Antonia Maponya, Zoe October, Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Nthabiseng Majiya, Thembi Kgatlana and Ronnel Donnelly. Six players are set for tournament debuts, with 18-year-old Zoe October the youngest member of the squad.
“We have a nice mixture of youth and experience, and that was key in making our selection because while we have immediate goals, we still need to look beyond the tournament and not be found wanting,” Ellis said. “We are under no illusion that this competition will be tough, but we believe we have a balanced squad and are well prepared for what lies ahead of us.”
Eyes on the World Cup
Beyond continental glory, there is a bigger prize in sight: qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“That means the focus for now is the opening game against Tanzania as it will set the tone for the tournament. We also depart with the full knowledge of the weight of expectations from all South Africans, and we promise not to disappoint,” Ellis said.
After the Tanzania clash, Banyana Banyana will face Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in the group stage as they chase a place in the knockout rounds and beyond.
From the champions of 2022 to the debutants dreaming big, this is a team carrying the hopes of a nation that has learned to expect magic from its women’s game. Mzansi will be watching on Monday – and cheering every touch. The full story is available from SAnews.
Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
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