Banyana Banyana win WAFCON Fair Play Award after falling short of title defence
Image: BACKPAGEPIX
South Africa's Banyana Banyana returned from the 13th TCAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with mixed emotions.
They failed to defend their title, finishing fourth after a semi-final loss against Nigeria. However, they were recognised with the prestigious Fair Play Award for their commendable sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
The Fair Play Award, determined by CAF's Technical Study Group based on a multitude of criteria encompassing on-field behaviour, respect for opponents and officials, and overall commitment to the spirit of the game, saw South Africa accumulate an impressive total of 510 points.
Final whistle. Pure chaos. 😮💨
Energy of the Day belongs to the Super Falcons! 🇳🇬#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2024 | @Football2gether pic.twitter.com/e0UPLje3tB — CAF Women's Football (@CAFwomen) July 27, 2025
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Banyana's discipline on the pitch shone through in their minimal fouls and lack of excessive protests during matches, reflecting a deep respect for both their opponents and the authority of the game.
Even amidst the pressures of high-stakes matches, such as the quarter-final clash against Senegal and the semi-final against Nigeria, skipper Refiloe Jane and her teammates maintained their composure. Their exemplary conduct resonated well beyond the pitch as their deep-rooted ethos of sportsmanship and commitment to fair play shone through.
Coach Desiree Ellis, a three-time winner of the Best African Women's Coach Award, has cultivated a culture within the Banyana that prioritises collective effort, respect, and solidarity. This indeed sets an example for other teams and reiterates the positive reputation of South African women's football.
However, despite these accolades, the disappointment of not finishing on the podium was palpable among players. Jane candidly expressed their frustration at being unable to retain the championship title.
'We are disappointed to be going home empty-handed," she remarked.
"It wasn't an easy one for the players, and there were a lot of challenges on and off the pitch. But we tried to put in a great performance and aimed to keep the trophy as the main objective."
This was the first time in three editions of the tournament that Banyana Banyana did not finish in the top three, having previously claimed silver in 2018 and gold in 2022.
'There's a lot of work still to be done, and we hope that in the next WAFCON, which is very important as it serves as a World Cup qualifying tournament, we can do well,' Jane added, hinting at the potential changes and adjustments within the team.
"Given the situation within the camp and the players we had, we're hoping that a lot of positives can be taken from this tournament and build on that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Bryan Mbeumo looks forward to Bruno Fernandes link-up at Manchester United
Big move French-born Cameroonian striker Bryan Mbeumo has completed his move from Brentford to Premier League giants Manchester United. Photo: Justin Tallis/AFP Image: Justin Tallis/AFP Bryan Mbeumo says he is excited about linking up with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes as he prepares for life at Old Trafford following his move from Brentford. After weeks of drawn-out talks, the 25-year-old finally joined United last week for £65 million ($87 million) plus a potential £6 million in add-ons. The Cameroon winger, who scored 20 goals and provided seven assists for Brentford in the Premier League last season, has signed a five-year deal with United, becoming their third signing of the summer transfer window. Mbeumo told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast that Fernandes was the player he was most looking forward to playing with. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "Everyone sees in the past years, he can shoot, he can cross, he can do crazy ball," he said. "Yeah, for a striker, you just enjoy that." Mbeumo is hoping to benefit from the experience of the Portuguese midfielder, who said last month he had rejected a huge offer from Saudi Arabia to stay at United despite their struggles last season. "On the pitch, when you're smart like he is, I think you don't even need to think a lot," he said. "You just need to make the run and he's going to play you in the right space every time. "But of course, you can have a little discussion to make him know how I prefer the balls and how I'm feeling the best to have the ball. "But at a certain point, there is only one way, even if it's not the one you like, you have to do the run and he's going to put the ball in a good position." Mbeumo's arrival follows the signings of Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and Paraguay left-back Diego Leon, from Cerro Porteno. United have recently been linked with Ollie Watkins – RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is also a reported target – and Mbeumo described his former Brentford teammate as the "complete striker". Mbeumo said of Watkins: "He's like a complete striker. He can do a lot of things." United are currently on a summer tour of the United States, preparing for their Premier League opener against Arsenal on August 17. AFP Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Coetze's gamble pays off with stunning world title in Singapore
Pieter Coetzé celebrates winning gold in the 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Tuesday. Photo: Supplied Image: SSA South Africa's young swim sensation Pieter Coetzé's impressive recent spell in the pool continued with a gold medal in the 100m backstroke final at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Tuesday. The new world champion stormed to the win, dipping below 52 seconds for the second time in the past two weeks. It was a victory that the Tuks psychology student felt was coming at some stage, though he admitted he didn't expect it to happen so soon. The South African kicked with about 10m to go to take the title in 51.85 seconds, lowering his own South African and African record for the third time in quick succession. He narrowly missed out on the world record of 51.60. July 19th: World University Games 100m Backstroke Gold ✅ July 29th: World Aquatics Championships 100m Backstroke Gold ✅ July 29th In the span of ten days, Pieter Coetze wins both events and gets his first ever World Title! 🥇#AQUASingapore25 #Swimming — World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) July 29, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Olympic champion and world record holder Thomas Ceccon of Italy took silver in 51.90, while Yohann Ndoye-Brouard of France claimed bronze in 51.95. The 21-year-old Coetzé had posted the world lead in the 100m backstroke earlier this year, when he swam an African and World Student Games record time of 51.99 seconds in Germany—becoming only the eighth swimmer in history to go under 52 seconds in the event. There was a risk that those exertions would have taken too much out of the rising star to remain competitive at the Singapore showpiece. Thankfully for Coetzé, it gave him the sharpness he needed to pull off the win in a closely contested final few metres. 'I always thought it would happen eventually. In my mind, it was just a matter of time. To do it this year is amazing and I can't say it was expected, especially because it was a gamble going to the World University Games right before this. But it's working pretty well,' Coetzé said, in his post-race television interview. Speaking again a little later, he added: 'It was awesome. The competition was very deep here, so there were eight guys who could have won it. 'The (World) University Games prepped me really well. The guys went fast there as well. But I'm over the moon. It was anyone's game. I knew that going into it, and to get away with the win is awesome.' He said of the time he swam: 'Every time I break (the African record`0, I'm really happy with it. "I can't explain, but it was more about the win tonight than the time, so if I won with a second slower time, it would still be as good. I think in a final you don't really think about the time at all.' "𝑺𝑶𝑼𝑻𝑯 𝑨𝑭𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑨 𝑪𝑳𝑨𝑰𝑴 𝑮𝑶𝑳𝑫 𝑨𝑻 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑾𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑷𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺𝑯𝑰𝑷𝑺!" 🔥 🇿🇦 Pieter Coetze wins gold in the Men's 100m Backstroke 🥇#AQUASingapore25 | #SSSwimming — SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) July 29, 2025 Coetzé had qualified third-fastest for the final, behind Hungary's Hubert Kós (52.21) and Russia's Kliment Kolesnikov (51.26). With the leading swimmers deadlocked with 25m to go, Coetzé produced a devastating burst of pace to surge to the wall and claim victory. The top three all finished under 52 seconds. He will return to the pool on Thursday for the heats and semi-final of the 200m backstroke — an event in which he won bronze at last year's World Championships. On Saturday, he is also set to compete in the 50m backstroke heats and semi-final. Meanwhile, South Africa's Chris Smith secured his place in the 50m men's breaststroke final in Singapore with a second-place finish in Tuesday's semi-final in an impressive time of 26.77, behind Koen de Groot of the Netherlands. The final is scheduled for Wednesday. Wednesday's programme will also see Olivia Nel, fresh from her four medals at the World University Games, lining up in the heats of the 50m backstroke. Matt Sates will take on the 200m individual medley and the South Africans will also be in action in the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Banyana Banyana make low-key return to SA after WAFCON exit
JOHANNESBURG - The Banyana Banyana squad made a low-key return to the country following their disappointing showing at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. There were no adoring supporters or any of the fanfare normally associated with South African teams returning home from competing on the global stage. Only a handful of friends and family were present to welcome the players home on Monday night and were outnumbered by the media contingent that was at OR Tambo International Airport for the team's arrival. Banyana went to the tournament as the reigning champions but finished in fourth place after a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to Nigeria in the semi-finals and a penalty shootout defeat against Ghana in the bronze medal match. While the players were visibly flat and despondent and made a quick exit from the arrivals terminal, Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis, faced questions from journalists about their campaign as well as her future with the national team. Ellis has been the subject of speculation since reports emerged before the tournament started that she had been working without a contract from SAFA for close to two years. There have been reports that Ellis would leave her position after WAFCON as well. She declined to comment on her current situation and what the next step for her would be. "I'm not going to comment. I've been taken out of context on numerous occasions and I think it's best I don't comment on that. Already, all over the media, what people are writing is not true. Certain things are not true. When people write, they must get the facts right, first of all. They write the wrong things. I'm not going to say anything, I'm saying 'No comment' purely because I don't want to be misquoted, because I've been badly misquoted during this tournament," said Ellis. Ellis did seem to indicate, however, that she did have her thoughts on the next tournament, which is the 2026 Women's AFCON, which will also be staged in Morocco. She said the first priority must be the qualifiers against DR Congo in October.
