The journey to another continental crown is officially underway after Banyana Banyana arrived safely in Morocco ahead of the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Cape {town} Etc reports.
Following a journey lasting just over 20 hours from South Africa, the national women’s team landed in Casablanca on Sunday before checking into their hotel and wasting little time getting back to work. Training resumed on Monday as preparations intensified for Africa’s biggest women’s football tournament, which runs from 26 July to 16 August.
For South Africa, the stakes could hardly be higher. Not only will the team be defending the title they famously won in 2022, but this year’s tournament also serves as a qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Head coach Dr Desiree Ellis recently confirmed her final squad of 26 players, blending proven experience with exciting new talent. Seventeen members of the group featured in the previous WAFCON tournament, while nine players have earned places for this year’s campaign.
Among the fresh faces are Katlego Moletsane, Isabella Ludwig, Asanda Hadebe, Antonia Maponya, Zoe October, Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Nthabiseng Majiya and Thembi Kgatlana, giving the squad a new look while maintaining a strong core of experienced internationals.
Moodaly-Salgado returns to the national setup after last representing South Africa in 2023, while Ronnel Donnelly is back in the fold after falling out of recent selections despite being part of the squad that finished fourth at the last tournament.
Six players will experience WAFCON for the very first time. Moletsane, Hadebe, Maponya, Phila, Ludwig and 18-year-old Zoe October will all make their tournament debuts, with October becoming the youngest member of the travelling squad.
South Africa will be making its 14th appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and has been drawn into a challenging Group B alongside Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
The defending champions begin their campaign against Tanzania, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 South African time. Four days later they face Ivory Coast before rounding off the group stage against Burkina Faso, with all three fixtures taking place at Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.
Having ended years of near misses by lifting the continental trophy in 2022, Banyana Banyana now return to Morocco carrying the expectations of a nation. With a balanced squad, valuable tournament experience and several emerging stars eager to make their mark, Ellis’ side will believe they have every chance of defending their African crown while taking another significant step towards the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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Picture: Zamani Makautsi / Gallo Images
