Banyana Banyana will be without the Mexican based quartet of Thembi Kgatlana, Hilda Magaia, Amogelang Motau and Sinoxolo Cesane for the first leg of the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifier against the DR Congo on Wednesday (22 October 2025).
The four are expected to fly directly to Johannesburg and link with the rest of the squad on Thursday (23 October) when they return from Central Africa.
“The Mexico-based quartet of Thembi Kgatlana, Hilda Magaia, Sinoxolo Cesane and Amogelang Motau will link up with the team in Johannesburg for the second leg. These staggered arrivals have been planned into the camp schedule to ensure continuity across both fixtures,” said the South African Football Association (SAFA) in a statement.
This will be a huge blow for South Africa to be without their prolific strikers, more so Kgatlana who scored a brace this past weekend for her club UANL Tigres – her sixth of the season. She makes her return to the national team after missing out on the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco due to personal reasons.
Kgatlana struck in the 31st minute for the Liga MX Femenil side, and also during referee’s optional time just before recess to help the Liga MX Femenil log leaders to an emphatic 5-1 triumph over Atletico San Luis in an Apertura 2025 fixture.
The victory sees Tigress safely at the top on 41 points with one match remaining – against Cruz Azul on 1 November.
The South African quartet’s absence in Kinshasa leaves Banyana Banyana with DR Congo-based Kgaelebane Mohlakoana, JVW’s Bonolo Mokoma, Nthabiseng Majiya and Thato Mofolo of Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and the University of Johannesburg respectively as the recognised forwards in the squad.
But the good news is that Bongeka Gamede, who plays her club football in Denmark has already arrived in camp, while Glasgow City’s Linda Motlhalo was expected on Tuesday (21 October) from Scotland.
The two-legged clash against the DR Congo starts in Kinshasa on Wednesday (22 October 2025) and conclude at the iconic FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 28 October.
These will be Banyana Banyana’s first matches in three months – the last time they were on the field was at the WAFCON in Morocco when they finished fourth after losing to Ghana.
Ahead of the DRC clash, the South Africans assembled for camp on Sunday (19 October) and travelled to the DRC on the same day.
They have already held their first training session and will have the final one on Tuesday (21 October).
By Matlhomola Morakev
