WAFCON: South Africa, the Fairest of them all
While Banyana Banyana failed to retain their continental title, they leave the 13th TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations with a highly symbolic distinction: the Fair Play Award. With a total of 510 points awarded by the Technical Study Group based on rigorous criteria; on-field behaviour, respect for opponents and officials, and positive commitment - South Africa once again set an example.
An Exemplary Team On and Off the Pitch
This award recognizes the discipline, sportsmanship, and spirit of Desiree Ellis's players, key figures in African Women's Football for over a decade. Both on and off the pitch, the South Africans distinguished themselves with their impeccable behaviour. There were few fouls, no excessive protests, and a consistent respect for the game and its rules. Even in the most tense moments of their journey - such as the quarterfinal against Senegal or the semifinal against Nigeria - Refiloe Jane's teammates maintained their composure. This attitude undoubtedly contributed to the awarding of this prize, which honours teams that have placed sporting ethics at the heart of their approach.
A performance worthy of the greats
On the sporting front, South Africa once again lived up to their reputation. Placed in Group C, Banyana Banyana began their tournament with a controlled victory against Ghana 2-0, before being held to a 1-1 draw by Tanzania. But the South Africans were able to bounce back, winning against Mali 4-0, thus securing their place in the quarterfinals.
The next stage was marked by a close match against Senegal (0-0; 4-1 on penalties), where the team's tactical intelligence and composure made the difference. Facing Nigeria, the South Africans lost 2-1 in a heated atmosphere at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. Despite the disappointment, they were able to acknowledge Nigeria's victory with dignity, once again demonstrating their exemplary nature.
A culture of respect rooted in their DNA
This is not the first time South Africa have been recognized for its behaviour. Under the leadership of Dr Desiree Ellis, the former captain turned coach and three-time winner of the Best African Women's Coach Award, the Banyana Banyana have forged a culture of collective effort, respect, and solidarity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CAF
6 hours ago
- CAF
Six days to go: Angola boss Gonçalves hails CAF for championing homegrown talent with CHAN
As the TotalEnergies CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 edges closer, Angola's head coach Pedro Gonçalves is leading his team with quiet confidence and deep reflection of his six years in charge of the Palancas Negras. Celebrating six years at the helm of the Palancas Negras, the Portuguese tactician believes Angola is primed to showcase its local talent despite facing challenges of player availability and group-stage pressure. In this exclusive interview with Gonçalves delves into Angola's CHAN qualification journey, the transformative power of the competition for local players, and his optimism about the future of football in the COSAFA region. He also acknowledges the difficult task ahead in a group that includes CHAN heavyweights Morocco and DR Congo, as well as co-hosts Kenya and regional rivals Zambia. With a mix of pragmatism and belief, Gonçalves sees CHAN not just as a tournament but as a platform for growth and recognition for African-based players. Here is the full Q&A: Q: Coach, you are preparing for yet another TotalEnergies CAF CHAN tournament. What are your views on the current state of the team? I have the privilege of celebrating six years as Angola's national team coach. The journey has been long and enjoyable. Our progress since 2019 has been substantial, and this will be the second consecutive CHAN that I am proud to have qualified Angola for. As a result of our development in recent years, Angola has become a goldmine for world football, and many of our most prominent players are now playing abroad, which means they won't be available for this competition. Nevertheless, I have always emphasized—and continue to stress to the players—the great importance of CHAN, as it serves both as a window of opportunity for local players and as a barometer for the entire internal football structure. Q: What do you make of the team's performance in the qualifiers? The fact that in 2024 we were the national team with the biggest rise in the FIFA rankings worldwide allowed us to skip the first qualifying round. On one hand, that was a good thing, but on the other, it meant we had less time to work and develop directly with the locally based players. We ended up playing the qualifier against Lesotho, which is always a very competitive opponent. I believe we were rightful winners of the tie, which was practically decided in the first leg with our 2-goal away victory. In the second leg at home, we were able to manage the squad and give other players the chance to compete. Despite losing that match due to an entirely unnecessary penalty, we always controlled the tie and were never in danger of missing qualification. Q: What makes this TotalEnergies CAF CHAN tournament important for Angolan Football? CHAN is of vital importance in boosting local talent. The vast majority of African national teams play mostly (or even entirely) with players who are based outside their countries. I think CAF brilliantly created a very interesting and attractive competitive space that opens the door for locally based players who aspire to reach higher sporting levels. CHAN provides visibility for local talent. Q: What have you made of the growth and competitiveness of African football? In recent seasons, CAF has implemented a series of initiatives that have increasingly raised the quality and visibility of African competitions. Africa holds the future talent of global football, and as such, interest from the global football world is growing. This is evident in the attention given to African competitions—not only from outside the continent but also from within, as there is growing enthusiasm and appreciation for what is being produced in African football. Q: Looking at your group, what do you make of your opponents and your chances of going to the KO stages? We are clearly in the most competitive group. Looking at the five teams in the group, only two have won CHAN twice—Morocco and the DRC—and they are clearly the favorites to qualify. Then there's the host nation, Kenya, which has made a significant investment. Zambia and ourselves will be seen as the 'underdogs,' but I believe we will fight relentlessly for a place in the quarterfinals. We may not be the favorites, but we will certainly have something to say in that fight. Q: What goals are you looking to set for your team in this competition? Considering that in the last edition we finished second in a group of three and didn't qualify—due to two draws in two matches—having the chance to play four games this time is already a great opportunity for this group of local players. We will fight for a place in the quarterfinals, which would be a fantastic goal to achieve given the strength of the teams in our group. Q: No Southern African nation has lifted the title. What do you make of this statistic and the chances of Southern African nations at the tournament? The progress of the COSAFA region has been gradual and significant. If we consider that seven of the teams in the upcoming AFCON are from the COSAFA region, that's already a sign of growth. However, we must now aim for the next level, which is winning titles in Africa. South Africa and Zambia have already done so in the AFCON. Let's see which team from our region will be the first to do it in CHAN. The talent is there, and with time, the allocation of more resources, and improvements in the development process, I believe it will become a reality.
CairoScene
6 hours ago
- CairoScene
First Egyptian Woman Appointed VP of African Squash Federation
Eltarabolsy's is the first female president of the national federation, but also as the presenter of Al-Abtal, Egypt's first television programme dedicated to squash and its champions. Jul 27, 2025 Amna Eltarabolsy, President of the Egyptian Squash Federation and a former world-ranked champion, has been appointed Vice President of the African Squash Federation, becoming the first Egyptian woman in history to hold the position. Eltarabolsy's career began as a professional athlete, reaching a global ranking of No. 41 before retiring in 2008. Today, she stands at the helm of Egyptian squash's administrative and media landscape, as the first female president of the national federation, but also as the presenter of Al-Abtal, Egypt's first television programme dedicated to squash and its champions. Eltarabolsy currently serves as Secretary of Sports for Alexandria Governorate under the Mostaqbal Watan (Nation's Future) Party. Her election to the African federation comes at a pivotal time. As squash prepares to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the continent is focused on elevating talent, infrastructure, and international competitiveness.
CAF
16 hours ago
- CAF
Back-to-back WAFCON Golden Boots for Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak
Ghizlane Chebbak has once again etched her name in African football history by securing the Golden Boot at the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024—three years after her first. The Moroccan captain, who found the net five times during the tournament, emerged as the competition's top scorer for a second consecutive edition, capping off a brilliant campaign on home turf with the prestigious PUMA Golden Boot award. Now 34, Chebbak continues to lead by example, following in the footsteps of her father, Larbi Chebbak, a 1976 Africa Cup of Nations winner with Morocco. But where her father left a mark in the men's game, Ghizlane is rewriting history in the women's edition—establishing herself as an enduring icon of Moroccan football. Commanding from the outset Chebbak wasted no time asserting her dominance at the tournament. In Morocco's group stage opener against Zambia, she delivered a commanding performance before truly stealing the spotlight in the clash against the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she netted a clinical hat-trick. Her masterful combination of positioning, technique and composure put the opposition on the back foot. It was a demonstration of experience fused with instinct—showing why she remains such a critical part of Jorge Vilda's setup. Even in matches where she didn't get on the scoresheet, such as against Mali and Ghana, Chebbak's presence was palpable. Whether through her link-up play, movement, or vocal leadership, she left her imprint on every encounter. Making her mark in the final On the grandest stage of all—the final against Nigeria in Rabat—Chebbak delivered again. Just 13 minutes in, she picked up a ball on the edge of the area, controlled it effortlessly, and unleashed a shot that flew past Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into the bottom corner. It was a moment that electrified the crowd at the Stade Olympique and gave Morocco the early lead in what would become a tense five-goal thriller. While Morocco ultimately fell short, losing 3-2 to the Super Falcons, Chebbak's goal was a reminder of her quality and big-game temperament. A place in the record books By claiming the PUMA Golden Boot once more, Chebbak becomes only the second player in WAFCON history to win back-to-back top scorer honours—a feat that underlines her exceptional longevity and consistency. Her impact goes beyond statistics. On and off the pitch, Chebbak has grown into the heartbeat of Moroccan women's football. She is a mentor to younger players, a symbol of the game's evolution in the country, and a beacon of hope for aspiring female footballers across Africa. As Morocco continues to invest in the women's game, Chebbak's legacy is already well-established. And with performances like these, she's showing no signs of slowing down.
