Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane says despite the away goal advantage they enjoy, they need all the focus they can muster when they face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the second leg of the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tonight (Tuesday, 28 October 2025) at the Dobsonville Stadium.
The South Africans travelled to the capital Kinshasa last week and played to a 1-all draw against their Central African counterparts.
“One thing we are very happy about is that we didn’t lose the match, and we also managed to get an away goal, so that kind of puts us at an advantage, but we know in football anything can happen. We still need to stay focused; we still need to push and try to get a good result and hopefully qualify for the WAFCON. The only approach is to win the game, there’s no other way,” said Jane.
“Coming into the second leg in our backyard, we’re hoping to use the home ground advantage we’re also hoping that the supporters can come in numbers to boost the morale of the players. At the end of the day, we are looking to get a positive result and advance to the WAFCON.”
The former midfield maestro of Italian giants AC Milan and Sassuolo adds that the players understand the mandate and are well aware that victory is a path to challenging for a spot at the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We know the importance of the WAFCON that we are anticipating to play – it’s a World Cup qualifying tournament. We know how much we fought as a team, how we’ve tried against all odds and we’ve always pulled through so even this time we want to do that,” added the TS Galaxy Queens player.
Fifi, as she is fondly called by her peers, is over the moon at the availability of the Mexico-based quartet of Sinoxolo Cesane, Hilda Magaia, Amogelang Motau and Thembi Kgatlana, who all missed the away fixture.
“Yes, we’re very excited and happy that the overseas based players will be with us in the second leg, we know the qualities that they bring into the team, the experience that they have, so we’re hoping to work together with them and get positive results,” said Jane.
“We also know the qualities of our opponents, very physical, very fast and mentally also they try to bully you. So, we’re hoping that with the experience that we have in the team we can share with the players and put in their minds that this is a do or die for us – either we win it or we go home.”
South Africa and the DR Congo kick off at 7pm.
Should the aggregate score be tied after this clash, the away goal rule will apply, and if still tied, a penalty shootout will ensue. According to CAF rules, there is no extra time to be played.
By Matlhomola Morake
