JOHANNESBURG – Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis says consistency was the biggest factor in selecting her final 26-player squad for the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which kicks off in Morocco later this month.
Ellis unveiled her squad at Sasol Place in Sandton on Friday, admitting it was one of the toughest selections she has had to make after reducing a preliminary squad of 31 players to the final 26.
She said performances over the entire domestic and international season, rather than isolated displays, ultimately determined who made the cut.
“Getting to the 31 was difficult. I’ve been following games since the start of the league and all I was looking for was consistency. You can’t play one out of five games. You’ve got to be consistent along the way,” Ellis told reporters.
The Banyana coach said the technical team also reflected on previous successful squads, particularly the team that won the 2022 WAFCON title, when deciding on the final group.
“We looked back at last year and also at 2022. In that squad we had players like Amohelang Matau, Robin Woodley and Bongeka Gamede who were not regulars, but we had quality replacements ready whenever they were needed. We wanted something similar this time around, where if one player comes out, another can step in. At the same time, we wanted the right balance between youth and experience.”
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Ellis said developing the next generation of Banyana stars formed a key part of her planning.
“If you look at our squad, we have six or seven players under the age of 24, including an 18-year-old. That balance was important. We also wanted players we can call on for 10 or 15 minutes during a match, as well as players who can push the regular starters during training. We looked carefully at our opponents as well because we want to be adaptable. If we need to change things during a game, we have the personnel to do that.”
Banyana Banyana head to Morocco fresh from the memories of winning their maiden WAFCON title in the same country in 2022.
This year’s tournament will run from 26 July to 16 August, giving South Africa an opportunity to defend the continental crown where they first lifted the trophy.
The squad announcement doubled as the team’s official send-off before departing for North Africa.
Experienced players, including goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, midfielders Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane and Amogelang Motau, as well as striker Thembi Kgatlana, form the backbone of the squad. Eighteen-year-old forward Zoe October is among the newcomers earning their first call-up for a major international tournament, while Refiloe Jane will captain the side.
South Africa have been drawn in Group B alongside Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. They begin their title defence against Tanzania on 27 July at 20:00 before facing Ivory Coast and concluding the group stage against Burkina Faso.
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This year’s WAFCON carries even greater significance, with the top four teams automatically qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
For Ellis and her players, a place in the semi-finals would not only keep their title defence alive but also secure another appearance on football’s biggest stage.
Ellis has already identified reaching the last four as the team’s minimum target.
Since taking charge in 2018, the former Banyana captain has overseen the most successful era in the national team’s history, guiding South Africa to its first WAFCON title in 2022 and a historic run to the last 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Her latest squad selection reflects the philosophy that has underpinned that success: rewarding sustained performances rather than reputation, while building enough depth to adapt throughout the tournament.
