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Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
‘One day at a time' — Banyana Banyana sharpen focus on journey to defend Wafcon title
Desiree Ellis's team is targeting a historic Women's Africa Cup of Nations title defence on Moroccan soil after lifting the trophy in 2022. Banyana Banyana are in uncharted territory. For the first time they are heading to a major tournament as defending champions. It is pressure with which the South Africans are not acquainted, but they are embracing it as they continue to carve out a path for future generations. Banyana Banyana won the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), the first time they were crowned champions of Africa despite being one of the best teams on the continent for an extended period. With this hurdle cleared, the team is aiming to create more history. In the more than three-decade history of the Wafcon, Banyana became just the third team to win the tournament three years ago, following in the footsteps of Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea. The Nigerians won the first seven editions of the continental showpiece before Equatorial Guinea snapped this dominance in 2008. Then Nigeria won it again two years later, before Equatorial Guinea triumphed for a second time in 2012. After that it was Nigerian dominance once more until South Africa snapped the monotony. If Banyana Banyana win this year's Morocco-hosted spectacle, they will join the two nations as multi-African champions. Flying start This all starts on Monday, 7 July when the defending champions take on Ghana in their opening group C game. They will then tussle with Tanzania four days later, before closing off the group campaign with a battle against Mali on 14 July. 'We are going to take it one day at a time. If we think too far ahead, we will lose focus on what's at hand. So, we will put everything towards that first game to make sure we get a positive result. Then we'll go to the next one and the next one,' said Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis. 'We have told the players that, yes, we are the defending champions. But we also said that we are contenders, like everybody else. Everyone going to this tournament has an ambition to win it and we are no different.' 'It's a difficult group because no team is easy to play,' said Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane, 'especially on the African continent. We are hoping that in the first game against Ghana we can set the tone [for the rest of the tournament]. Then we will take one game at a time.' Ellis added: 'We are under no illusions about the target on our back. But the experience of having been there and knowing how to get over that hurdle will [stand] us in good stead, even though it's a newish squad.' Thembi Kgatlana's absence Experienced players such as midfield maestros Jane and Linda Motlhalo, defender Bambanani Mbane, goalkeepers Andile Dlamini and Kaylin Swart, as well as forwards Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia, will be the bedrock of the team. Seoposenwe (who will retire from international soccer at the end of Wafcon) and Magaia will be particularly crucial in the absence of fellow sharpshooter Thembi Kgatlana. The former African footballer of the year has excused herself from national duty for 'personal reasons'. 'We know the capabilities of Thembi and what she offers to the team. It's going to be a big loss for the team. But we also have other players who have to step up and try to do well in that position. We have to go out there and play as a team, to fight for each other to hopefully retain the trophy,' Jane said. Despite the setback of losing Kgatlana, the South Africans are confident that the team will be able to navigate the demands of the tournament all the way to the final again. They are also hopeful that they can deliver another Wafcon triumph to send off Seoposenwe on a winning note. 'We have seen Jermaine out in Mexico and what she's done. We have seen what she's done for the national team and she's currently in good scoring form. Hopefully she can keep that form [at the Wafcon]. But a big thank you to Jermaine. She's always come in and given her best, raising the level. Hopefully we can give her a good sendoff,' said Ellis. Fresh faces Although they have stagnated in recent years, 11-time African champions Nigeria remain the biggest threat to Banyana Banyana's ambitions. Morocco – who South Africa vanquished 2-1 in the final to clinch a maiden continental title three years ago – can't be underestimated either. The same is true for Zambia, who earned a bronze medal at the previous Wafcon instalment. Kgatlana's absence has opened up a spot for the young players in the Banyana Banyana fold. Teenagers such as JVW's Bonolo Mokoma and zippy winger Adrielle Mibe will be hungry to show what they can do in the absence of one of the continent's most lethal strikers. Another new face in the team is the University of the Western Cape's Ronnel Donnelly. The 21-year-old striker has undoubtedly been included for physical presence against robust defenders. Young goalkeeper Casey Gordon and striker Nthabiseng Majiya will not travel with the squad, but will be on standby. 'I had conversations with them when they came to camp and some of them were extremely nervous,' said Ellis of the fresh faces in the team. 'I told them that we selected them based on what we see and we don't want them to do anything different. But we want them to take what we've seen to the next level.' With African nations focusing more and more on women's soccer, this edition of the Wafcon (5 to 26 July) promises to increase the competitiveness seen in previous editions. All 12 participating teams are hungry to showcase their growth from the past few years. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Refiloe Jane leads Banyana's focused bid to defend WAFCON Title
Refiloe Jane and Linda Motlhalo during the Banyana Banyana Training at UJ Sports Grounds. | BackpagePix Image: Sydney Mahlangu Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane says South Africa's senior women's national team is fully focused on one goal as they prepare to travel to Morocco for the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) — defending the continental crown they claimed in 2022. The reigning champions will begin their title defence in Group C, with their opening match scheduled for Monday, 7 July against Ghana at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda. The northern Moroccan city will serve as the team's base for the group stages of the competition, which runs from 5 to 26 July. Having led the side to its historic maiden title three years ago, Jane insists the mission remains unchanged — regardless of changes in personnel. The fact that Sasol Banyana Banyana are defending champs is not lost of Juice ahead of WAFCON.#SasolinSport#LiveTheImpossible#BanyanaBanyana — Sasol in Sport (@SasolinSport) June 22, 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 Next Stay Close ✕ 'I don't think it's going to be different — the objective is still the same. We have to go out there and defend the title,' she said. 'Whether it's different players, old or new, the motivation is still the same. It's very difficult to win it, but it's even more difficult to retain, and that's the mission of this team.' South Africa's group includes formidable opposition, and Jane warned against any complacency as the team prepares to face some of the best in African women's football. 'The group we're in is a very difficult one. Every team that's in the tournament is going to fight tooth and nail — there are no small or big teams,' she said. One major absentee from the WAFCON-bound squad will be star forward Thembi Kgatlana, who is unavailable for personal reasons.
SowetanLIVE
29-05-2025
- Sport
- SowetanLIVE
Banyana made to sweat by Botswana in friendly
Banyana Banyana started the final phase of their preparations for the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco in July with a 3-2 win over stubborn Botswana in their Tri-Nations friendly at Lucas Moripe Stadium yesterday. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis started the match geared towards build-up to South Africa's defence of their Wafcon 2022 title with veteran midfielder Refiloe Jane, who was making her return to the team for the first time in more than a year after injury. Jane, who stayed on the pitch for 70 minutes until she was replaced by Bongeka Gamede, played closely with Amogelang Motau in the heart of the midfield.
The Herald
29-05-2025
- General
- The Herald
Banyana made to sweat by Botswana in Wafcon warm-up friendly
Banyana Banyana started the final phase of their preparations for the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco in July with a 3-2 win over a stubborn Botswana in their Tri-Nations friendly at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria, on Wednesday. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis started the match as part of the build-up to South Africa's defence of their Wafcon 2022 title with veteran midfielder Refiloe Jane, who made her return to the team for the first time in more than a year after a career-threatening injury. Jane, who stayed on the pitch for 70 minutes until she was replaced by Bongeka Gamede, played closely with Amogelang Motau in the heart of the midfield, where she looked comfortable.
TimesLIVE
28-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Banyana made to sweat by Botswana in Wafcon warm-up friendly
Banyana Banyana started the final phase of their preparations for the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco in July with a 3-2 win over stubborn Botswana in their Tri-Nations friendly at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday. Banyana coach Desiree Ellis started the match geared towards build-up to South Africa's defence of their Wafcon 2022 title with veteran midfielder Refiloe Jane, who was making her return to the team for the first time in more than a year after a career-threatening injury. Jane, who stayed on the pitch for 70 minutes until she was replaced by Bongeka Gamede, played closely with Amogelang Motau in the heart of the midfield where she looked comfortable.
