South Africa's Experienced Squad for WAFCON 2026
Desiree Ellis has nailed her colours to the mast. South Africa’s coach has gone heavy on experience, World Cup know‑how and big‑tournament temperament as she confirmed a 26‑player squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
This is not just about defending a crown. It is about a ticket to Brazil.
WAFCON, which runs from July 26 to August 16, doubles as the qualifying route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Reach the semi‑finals, and you are in. Miss out, and you are left scrambling through the intercontinental playoffs, where only two more African sides can salvage their World Cup dream.
Ellis has picked a group that knows both the pressure and the prize.
Core of champions stays intact
The spine of the 2022 title‑winning side is back. Striker Thembi Kgatlana leads the line again, the livewire forward once more expected to carry South Africa’s cutting edge.
Behind her, the familiar rhythm of the midfield returns with Linda Motlhalo and captain Refiloe Jane included, while at the back, the trusted defensive unit of Lebohang Ramalepe and Bambanani Mbane remains in place.
In goal, Kaylin Swart and Andile Dlamini, both seasoned at this level, headline a trio completed by Kebotseng Moletsane.
The message is clear: this is no experimental group. Ellis wants players who have already walked through the fire.
A remarkable return – and a painful backstory
One of the most striking names on the list is Robyn Moodaly‑Salgado. Previously retired from football, she has forced her way back into the national picture and now joins her spouse, Gabriela Moodaly‑Salgado, in the squad.
Gabriela’s inclusion carries its own emotional weight. She suffered a horrific broken leg at the last WAFCON, a moment that hung over South Africa’s campaign. Now she returns to the same stage, this time as part of a squad trying to turn shared scars into fuel.
Up front, another familiar hero is back in the fold. Hildah Magaia, currently unattached at club level, has been trusted again. Her status in South African football folklore is already secure: two goals in the 2022 final against hosts Morocco, and with them, Banyana Banyana’s first and only continental title.
Ellis is banking on that big‑game instinct again.
Group B: no room for slip‑ups
Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group B and will open their campaign against Tanzania in Casablanca on July 27. It is the sort of fixture that can set the tone for an entire tournament.
Four days later, they face Ivory Coast, a side capable of turning any group on its head. Burkina Faso follow on August 4 to close out the pool phase.
Only the top two in each group move into the quarterfinals. From there, it becomes a straight sprint to the last four – and those golden World Cup slots.
‘We know what is at stake’
Captain Refiloe Jane did not dress up the reality. The last edition did not go to plan, and the squad is under no illusions about the scale of the task in Morocco.
She underlined that the primary target is simple: qualify for the World Cup. Everything else, including defending their WAFCON crown, comes after that.
Jane’s own journey into this tournament has not been straightforward. An injury setback threatened her build‑up, but the postponement of WAFCON turned into an unlikely lifeline. It allowed her time to regain full fitness and collect valuable minutes with TS Galaxy Queens FC before rejoining the national team.
She believes that shift in timing has helped the entire group. With domestic leagues up and running, players arrive sharper, battle‑ready, and better prepared to hit the ground running in Morocco.
Filling a giant’s void
One absence hangs over the squad list. Veteran midfielder Jermaine Seoposenwe has retired, leaving a sizeable gap in both the dressing room and the starting XI.
Jane acknowledged how deeply Seoposenwe’s presence used to run through the team. She was more than a tactical asset; she was a reference point, on and off the pitch. Now, the onus falls on the next generation to show they were paying attention.
South Africa will lean on that blend of old heads and new energy as they chase a place at the World Cup and attempt to hold on to their African crown.
The names are set. The route is clear. In Morocco, Banyana Banyana will discover whether this mix of resilience, reunion and raw ambition is enough to keep them at the top of the continent – and on the plane to Brazil.
