2025 WAFCON: Banyana Banyana focus on the present rather than the past
Image: BackpagePix
Banyana Banyana will begin their CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence this weekend with a clear message from within camp — the past will not play a part for them in Morocco.
The 2025 edition of the tournament officially kicks off on Saturday with the final set for 26 July.
Banyana, who are based in Oujda, will face Ghana, Tanzania and Mali in Group C as they attempt to retain the crown they famously won three years ago.
'We are focused on ourselves and not stressed about other teams. We just need to make sure that we do on the field what we do when we train,' said forward Noxolo Cesane, who is expected to play a key role in Desiree Ellis' squad during the campaign.
The team resumed training on Friday in Casablanca after a day off, before travelling to their base for the group stages.
When you're this ready for WAFCON, even your feet can't stay on the ground 😅🦅#BanyanaBanyana 💛 pic.twitter.com/4OarofhdPI — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 4, 2025
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Banyana are among 12 nations competing for the newly unveiled WAFCON trophy, which was presented on Wednesday in Rabat.
Cesane insists Banyana are not banking on the memories of 2022, where they defeated hosts Morocco to win their maiden continental title.
Instead, she believes the current group must earn the right to be champions again.
'Every day, every month and every season teams change, and it is going to be hard. But we have to fix ourselves instead of looking at other teams, and we have to work hard to achieve what we want,' she said.
'So far, we are doing well. We have frustrations here and there, like mistakes on the field, and we have to fix those – it's difficult but we are working hard.'
While defending their title will be the primary goal, Banyana will also be motivated by the significant increase in prize money announced by CAF.
I promise you nobody has frustrated Morocco like South Africa has recently.
2022 - Banyana Banyana win WAFCON beating Morocco
2024 - Bafana Bafana eliminates Morocco from AFCON
2025 - Amajita wins the AFCON beating Morocco
#OfficialPSL #bafanabafana #banyanabanyana #AFCON pic.twitter.com/dMIdvAtAlc — BakZy_SA (@bakzy_sa) May 18, 2025
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2025 WAFCON: Banyana Banyana focus on the present rather than the past
FILE - Banyana Banyana players celebrate with the trophy after beating Morocco in the final of the last Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Banyana Banyana will begin their CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence this weekend with a clear message from within camp — the past will not play a part for them in Morocco. The 2025 edition of the tournament officially kicks off on Saturday with the final set for 26 July. Banyana, who are based in Oujda, will face Ghana, Tanzania and Mali in Group C as they attempt to retain the crown they famously won three years ago. 'We are focused on ourselves and not stressed about other teams. We just need to make sure that we do on the field what we do when we train,' said forward Noxolo Cesane, who is expected to play a key role in Desiree Ellis' squad during the campaign. The team resumed training on Friday in Casablanca after a day off, before travelling to their base for the group stages. When you're this ready for WAFCON, even your feet can't stay on the ground 😅🦅#BanyanaBanyana 💛 — Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 4, 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 are among 12 nations competing for the newly unveiled WAFCON trophy, which was presented on Wednesday in Rabat. Cesane insists Banyana are not banking on the memories of 2022, where they defeated hosts Morocco to win their maiden continental title. Instead, she believes the current group must earn the right to be champions again. 'Every day, every month and every season teams change, and it is going to be hard. But we have to fix ourselves instead of looking at other teams, and we have to work hard to achieve what we want,' she said. 'So far, we are doing well. We have frustrations here and there, like mistakes on the field, and we have to fix those – it's difficult but we are working hard.' While defending their title will be the primary goal, Banyana will also be motivated by the significant increase in prize money announced by CAF. I promise you nobody has frustrated Morocco like South Africa has recently. 2022 - Banyana Banyana win WAFCON beating Morocco 2024 - Bafana Bafana eliminates Morocco from AFCON 2025 - Amajita wins the AFCON beating Morocco #OfficialPSL #bafanabafana #banyanabanyana #AFCON — BakZy_SA (@bakzy_sa) May 18, 2025
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Cesane stressed they must work harder and not rely on their reputation as defending champions because that is going to count for little as most teams have evolved and improved over the past few years. 'Every day, every month and every season teams change and it is going to be hard. We have to fix ourselves instead of looking at other teams and we have to work hard to achieve what we want. 'So far we are doing well, we have frustrations here and there like mistakes on the field and we have to fix those. It's difficult but we are working hard.' In the past week, Banyana were training under sweltering conditions in Casablanca but on Friday they travelled to their base camp in Oujda to work on the final stages of their preparations.
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