Banyana Banyana's future clouded by Wafcon disappointment

The team failed to reach the Women's Africa Cup of Nations podium for the first time since 2016. What does the future hold for them? By Yanga Sibembe

- Yanga Sibembe

Could have. Should have. Might have. Such thoughts will not aid Banyana Banyana in any way as they pick up the pieces of their poorest Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) campaign in a number of years.

Despite being the defending champions after their maiden Wafcon conquest in 2022, Banyana Banyana came into the Morocco-hosted tournament preaching caution. Yes, they were the defending champions — but that was old news, they said.

The team was different. It had lost some of its longest-serving players and leaders to retirement since that historic win three years ago. Super striker turned hard-hitting defender Noko Matlou, as well as Africa's most capped player of all time, Janine van Wyk, had retired.

"Obviously, we are disappointed to be going home empty-handed. The tournament wasn't an easy one for the players and there were a lot of challenges on and off the pitch. But we tried to put in a great performance, we tried to do our level best and we tried to retain the trophy as the main objective," said Banyana Banyana co-captain Refiloe Jane.

"Going home now, there's a lot of work still to be done and we're hoping that come the next Wafcon in 2026 [which is very important, as it's a 2027 World Cup qualifying tournament], we can do well. But firstly we need to do well in the qualifiers."

Jane pointed out that the team is in transition and it's a balancing act putting out a competitive side. Add to that the regular and distracting off-field issues the team has had to contend with before major tournaments and it gets difficult to judge Banyana fairly.

At this Wafcon the players downed tools just days after landing in Morocco, citing unpaid fees from previous matches for the national team as the reason for their strike.