Banyana Banyana midfielder Linda Motlhalo is heading into an exciting 2026 as she will be taking part in four different competitions – Sky Sports Cup, ScottishPower Women’s Premier League, the Scottish Cup and the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026).
It could so easily have been five had Glasgow City not been knocked out of the new UEFA Women’s Europa Cup, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Portugal’s Sporting CP in the Round of 16 in November last year.
The Scottish outfit will play four matches in three different competitions in just one hectic month of January.
In their first assignment of the year, City go into battle with Queens Park in a fourth-round clash in the Women’s Scottish Cup on Sunday, 11 January. The Glasgow derby will be played at Petershill Park with the winner securing a quarter-final spot in the competition.
Next on the menu will be back-to-back league fixtures – (Scottish Women’s Premier League – SWPL) where they will face Partick Thistle on Sunday, 18 January, followed by the duel against Rangers on Sunday, 25 January.
Thistle and Rangers are eighth and second on the log standings respectively.
City went into the European winter break in December in total control – they closed off 2025 top of the table, seven points clear ahead of three teams who are tied on 31 points each – Rangers, Celtic and Hearts. Glasgow is on 38 points after 14 matches – they are yet to lose, and have registered 12 wins, and two draws. They are close to wrapping up the league title – which will see the South African lift the trophy for the second time with Glasgow and also qualify for the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Motlhalo’s side will then round off the month of January action with a semi-final fixture against Hibernian in the Sky Sports Cup. Their last meeting in a league match ended in a goalless draw in November last year. Rangers take on Celtic in the other last four encounter.
Still to come for Glasgow City are two league fixtures against Celtic and Motherwell.
Also, in the mix is perhaps the big one – WAFCON 2026 with the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana, where the ultimate prize is qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The Brandvlei-born midfield maestro has become a vital cog for the South African Senior Women’s National team and will most likely be in Morocco for the prestigious tournament.
The African premier women’s national team’s competition will be held in the North African country from 17 March to 3 April where the top four nations will book their tickets for the South American tournament.
Banyana Banyana will be eager to make it three in a row at the World Cup after qualifying back-to-back for the women’s global showpiece in France (2019) and Australasia (2023).
CAF will conduct the final draw for the WAFCON 2026 on Thursday, 15 January in Rabat, Morocco, revealing South Africa’s opponents in the competition.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria are the defending Champions after winning the tournament a record 10 times.
Banyana Banyana lifted their maiden continental title in 2022 with Motlhalo playing a key role.
MOTLHALO’S FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR AT A QUICK GLANCE:
| COMPETITION | OPPONENT | STAGE | DATE |
| Women’s Scottish Cup | Queens Park | Quarterfinal | Sun, 11 Jan |
| SWPL | Partick Thistle | Round 15 | Sun, 18 Jan |
| SWPL | Rangers | Round 16 | Sun, 25 Jan |
| Sky Sports Cup | Hibernian | Semi-final | Sat, 31 Jan |
| SWPL | Celtic | Round 17 | Sun, 08 Feb |
| SWPL | Motherwell | Round 18 | Sun, 22 Feb |
| WAFCON 2026 | TBC | Tournament | 17 Mar – 3 Apr |
By Matlhomola Morake
