Something quite not right with this Banyana

Worrying signals as the girls head off to defend Wafcon title

- Kgomotso Mokoena

As compared to previous occasions, Banyana Banyana received a rather low-key sendoff to the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) tournament this past week. There was no fanfare, no song and dance and definitely, no pomp and no celebration. Something is just not right in the camp.

As we speak, the girls have already settled down in Morocco and are finetuning their preparations to defend the Wafcon title they lifted in 2022 against all odds. They did the unthinkable when they defeated Morocco in the final in front of a partisan crowd in Rabat. The girls were united: there was camaraderie within the team - the camp was oozing with joy and sisterhood.

This time around, it is not encouraging. Coach Desiree Ellis' body language tells a different story. She is not the buoyant and upbeat trainer wehave become accustomed to. She seems detached from the stocky, honey badger who fiercely led the team with conviction.