Banyana coach Dr Ellis trims preliminary Wafcon squad to 28 players

Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis has refined her preliminary squad for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), cutting the list from 46 to 28 players as preparations intensify for the tournament in Morocco next month.

Of the 28 selected, 24 will report to camp in Johannesburg on 19 June 2025. The remaining four, based overseas, will join later due to ongoing club commitments. Their arrival will be slightly delayed since the assembly date falls outside Fifa’s international window.

Hildah Magaia’s inclusion remains tentative as she undergoes medical assessments following the recent #ThreeNations Challenge, which featured Banyana Banyana, Zambia, and Botswana in Pretoria. Meanwhile, Thembi Kgatlana has withdrawn from the camp and will not be part of the WAFCON squad due to personal reasons.

The final squad announcement is set for 23 June 2025 in Johannesburg, after which the team will depart for Morocco. The defending champions, sponsored by Sasol, will compete in Group C. They kick off their WAFCON campaign against Ghana on 7 July 2025 at Honneur Stadium in Oujda, which will serve as South Africa’s base during the group stage.

Banyana Banyana will then take on Tanzania on 11 July, followed by a clash with Mali on 14 July. The tournament runs from 5 to 26 July 2025, with the opening match between hosts Morocco and Zambia scheduled for 5 July at Rabat’s newly built Olympic Stadium.