Defending African champions Banyana Banyana are putting the finishing touches to their preparations in Morocco ahead of their opening match of the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against Tanzania.
The tournament will take place in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August 2026, with South Africa drawn in Group B alongside Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.
Head coach Dr Desiree Ellis said the team has already completed two training sessions focused on adapting to Morocco’s weather conditions after arriving from South Africa’s winter climate.
“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 on Tuesday.
Ellis recently named a 26-player squad for the continental showpiece, with SAFA retaining the core of the team that has represented the senior national side in recent internationals.
Seventeen players were part of the WAFCON 2024 squad, while nine new faces have been included for this year’s tournament: Katlego Moletsane, Isabella Ludwig, Asanda Hadebe, Antonia Maponya, Zoe October, Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Nthabiseng Majiya, Thembi Kgatlana and Ronnel Donnelly.
Six players – Moletsane, Hadebe, Maponya, Phila, Ludwig and October – are set to make their WAFCON debuts, with 18-year-old Zoe October the youngest member of the squad.
Ellis said the blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talent was a deliberate strategy.
“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.
“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,” she said.
South Africa, making their 14th WAFCON appearance, will begin the defence of the title they won in 2022 with a crucial opening fixture against Tanzania on Monday, 27 July.
Ellis said the team’s immediate objective is to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the opening match expected to set the tone for the tournament.
“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,” she said.
Following the Tanzania clash, Banyana Banyana will face Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in the remaining Group B fixtures.
The tournament’s top four teams will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
