Banyana Banyana forward Thembi Kgatlana will miss the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) due to personal reasons.
“Thembi Kgatlana will not be part of the camp in Johannesburg and will also not be selected to the WAFCON-bound squad due to personal reasons. The final squad announcement will be made on 23 June 2025 in Johannesburg, and then the team will depart for Morocco shortly afterwards,” said SAFA in a statement.
In 2022, she sustained a ruptured Achilles Tendon in South Africa’s third Group C match against Botswana, which Banyana won 1-0 thanks to a Nthabiseng Majiya goal – who had come on as a replacement for Kgatlana after she was stretchered off in the 69th minute.
The UANL Tigres star then left the tournament to get treatment in South Africa, while her teammates went on to lift their maiden WAFCON trophy.
In the previous edition in 2018 in Ghana, the then Atletico Madrid forward was the top goal scorer and named Player of the Tournament as Banyana finished second to Nigeria in a nail-biting final that was decided on penalties.
The news of Kgatlana’s absence from the upcoming WAFCON comes after South Africa head coach Desiree Ellis trimmed her preliminary squad of 46 down to 28 ahead of the edition where the Sasol-sponsored Banyana are the defending champions.
The remaining players are expected to report for national team duty on Thursday, 19 June 2025 – with 24 available for the training camp at the start, and the other four expected to arrive in different times as they have club commitments overseas.
“The 24 will be joined by four overseas-based players at a later stage as they still have club commitments and with the date of assembly falling outside of the FIFA window, their arrival in camp will be delayed by a few days. Hildah Magaia will also join the camp at a later stage as she is still undergoing medical assessments following the recent #ThreeNations Challenge in Pretoria featuring Banyana Banyana, Zambia and Botswana,” read the SAFA statement.
Twenty-one WAFCON-bound players will be announced four days later in Johannesburg, and fly out shortly thereafter to Morocco.
Among those missing out are Jessica Williams, Katlego Moletsane, Kholosa Biyana, Nomvula Kgoale, Nicole Michael, Sinoxolo Cesane and Ayesha Moosa.
Biyana, Kgatlana and Kgoale were part of the 2022 WAFCON winning squad, while Moletsane was on standby.
For the 2024/2025 edition of the tournament, Banyana have been drawn in Group C and will contest a quarterfinal spot against Ghana (Monday, 7 July 2025), Tanzania (Friday, 11 July) and Mali (Monday, 14 July).
South Africa will be based in Oujda, and will play all their group stage matches at the Honneur Stadium.
The competition runs from 5-26 July 2025.
Banyana Banyana players in the PRELIMINARY WAFCON squad of 28:
Banyana Banyana players that missed the WAFCON cut:
GOALKEEPERS:
Katlego Moletsane (University of Fort Hare), Jessica Williams (University of Cape Town)
DEFENDERS:
Unathi Simayile (University of the Western Cape), Shannon Macomo (University of Johannesburg)
MIDFIELDERS:
Nomvula Kgoale, Nicole Michael, Samkelisiwe Selana (all from TS Galaxy Queens), Isabella Ludwig, Kholosa Biyana (both Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies), Sibongile Ntoane, Tshogofatso Motlogelwa (both TUT Matsatsantsa Ladies), Ayesha Moosa (University of Johannesburg), Bongiwe Thusi (JVW FC), Sinoxolo Cesane (Mazatlán, Mexico)
FORWARDS:
Thembi Kgatlana (Tigres UNAL, Mexico), Bongiwe Thusi (JVW FC),
Players who have not played for Banyana who missed the cut:
- Rennika Khoza (University of Fort Hare)
- Modikanalo Mashigo (Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies)
- Jessica Wade (JVW FC)
By Matlhomola Morake
