Sports Reporter
Banyana Banyana will begin their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign against Tanzania in Casablanca on Monday, hoping to take an early step towards reclaiming the continental title and qualifying for another World Cup.
The Group B match is scheduled to start at 7pm South African time at the Moulay Rachid Stadium. South Africa will also play Côte d’Ivoire on Friday before completing the group stage against Burkina Faso on 4 August at the same venue.
Desiree Ellis’s team arrive in Morocco as one of the leading contenders, but with something to prove after failing to retain the title at the previous tournament. Banyana, who became African champions for the first time in 2022, were eliminated by Nigeria in the semi-finals of the last edition and eventually finished fourth.
Their immediate task is to avoid another difficult encounter with Tanzania.
The teams drew 1-1 during the group stage of the previous WAFCON. Tanzania took the lead through Opah Clement before Bambanani Mbane equalised in the second half. That remains the Twiga Stars’ only point in the competition across their two previous appearances.
South Africa won the countries’ other WAFCON meeting 2-1 in 2010, leaving Banyana unbeaten in their two tournament matches against Tanzania. Both games were closely contested, however, and Tanzania scored in each of them.
Ellis has selected a 26-player squad combining established internationals with younger players. Captain Refiloe Jane, goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, defenders Lebohang Ramalepe and Mbane, and attackers Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia provide much of the team’s tournament experience.
Midfielder Linda Motlhalo is also in line for a personal milestone. The Glasgow City player will make her 100th senior international appearance should she feature against Tanzania.
Kgatlana’s availability strengthens an attack that will be expected to control possession and create chances against a Tanzanian side likely to defend in numbers before looking to break forward quickly.
Tanzania’s leading attacking threat is Clara Luvanga. The Al-Nassr forward has developed into one of her country’s most important players, with her speed, movement and finishing central to the Twiga Stars’ approach. She was also part of the team that frustrated South Africa at the previous WAFCON.
The four teams that reach the semi-finals will qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will compete for two places in the inter-confederation play-offs.
The expanded tournament contains four groups of four teams, with the leading two sides in each section progressing to the quarter-finals. A victory over Tanzania would therefore give Banyana an important advantage before potentially more demanding group matches against Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
South Africa have reached the knockout rounds at each of their past nine WAFCON appearances and are unbeaten in their last 10 group-stage matches. They have also avoided defeat in their opening fixture at the past four editions.
Those figures make Banyana favourites on Monday, but the draw between the teams at the previous tournament should ensure there is little room for complacency.
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