Banyana Banyana Head to WAFCON with Confidence After Winning All Warm-Up Matches
Banyana Banyana are brimming with belief as they prepare to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown next month, following an unbeaten streak in all their preparatory matches. With a clean sweep of victories against fellow continental contenders, the national side now heads into the prestigious tournament in Morocco with heads held high and spirits lifted.
Convincing Finish to Preparations
In their final friendly before departing for WAFCON, South Africa clinched a convincing 2-0 win over Zambia during the Three Nations Challenge at Lucas Moripe Stadium. That result saw them lift the mini-tournament trophy after a prior 3-2 win over Botswana. The round-robin format was arranged to offer valuable match fitness and tactical assessment ahead of the July showdown.
The tournament, which runs from 5 to 26 July, will see Banyana begin their campaign against Ghana at Honor Stadium in Oujda on 7 July. Their group-stage clash against the West Africans is widely anticipated, with both nations tipped to go deep into the competition.
Players Backing Each Other
Defender Bongeka Gamede believes the team’s preparations have laid a solid foundation. “Facing Malawi, Botswana and Zambia – all WAFCON-bound teams – gave us competitive match exposure,” she said. “We’re gaining rhythm, and these results are a boost heading into Morocco.”
Gamede also found the back of the net against Zambia, alongside seasoned forward Jermaine Seoposenwe, whose experience is expected to be pivotal in the weeks ahead.
Team Spirit and Tactical Growth
Right-back Lebogang Ramalepe, who was named Player of the Match against Zambia, echoed the sentiment of growing confidence, noting that while the team is buoyed by the recent success, there’s still room for progress. “Winning the Three Nations Challenge has certainly lifted morale. But WAFCON is a different battlefield,” she stated. “We need to stay mentally sharp and work harder on our finishing. Also, keeping the unity and desire to fight for each other will be key.”
Coach Cautiously Optimistic
Head coach Desiree Ellis remains grounded despite the string of victories. She sees the positive results as confirmation that her squad is heading in the right direction but maintains that there’s still fine-tuning to be done. “Winning this tournament gives us encouragement, but we cannot afford to relax. We need to polish certain details and be fully prepared for every scenario,” Ellis explained.
She also warned against underestimating their rivals in Morocco. “There’s been visible growth across Africa. Every nation has been playing friendlies and refining their squads. We’ll show respect to every opponent – but we don’t fear anyone.”
Flawless Friendly Record Builds Momentum
Banyana’s 2025 warm-up campaign has been flawless so far, underlining the squad’s consistency and growing cohesion:
- 22 Feb: 1-0 win vs Lesotho
- 24 Feb: 2-0 win vs Lesotho
- 5 Apr: 3-0 win vs Malawi
- 8 Apr: 2-1 win vs Malawi
- 28 May: 3-2 win vs Botswana
- 4 Jun: 2-0 win vs Zambia
The unbroken run of victories paints a promising picture ahead of WAFCON, with Ellis’s side showcasing both defensive discipline and attacking potential.
Confidence High, But Eyes on the Prize
With the tournament just weeks away, Banyana Banyana have every reason to believe they can once again rise to the occasion. While the team’s confidence has grown through their preparatory matches, the coaching staff and players are focused on staying humble, improving match by match, and fighting to retain the continental title.
Supporters across the country will be rallying behind the squad as they look to bring home more glory.
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