It is the end of era as Banyana Banyana forward Jermaine Seoposenwe dropped a bombshell on Monday evening (16 June 2025) and announced her retirement from the South African Senior Women’s National team after the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations next month.
The tournament runs from 5-26 July.
In an emotional letter on her socials, the Mexico-based star expressed her gratitude to the South African fans, adding that it was a difficult decision to make.
“I’ve made the difficult decision to retire from the Senior National Women’s Football Team, better known as Banyana Banyana, after the upcoming Women’s African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco from the 5th to the 26th of July 2025. I know this might come as a surprise to many; however, I felt it was the perfect time. The idea of stepping away has been on my heart for a while, and as I continue to evolve as a human being and a footballer, it has become more evident to me that this is the best decision for my well-being,” read part of her note.
She will be joining an illustrious and elite list of great players who have called it a day on the national team – the likes of Amanda Dlamini, Janine van Wyk and more recently Noko Matlou and Nompumelelo Nyandeni – closing a major chapter in South African women’s football.
Seoposenwe has been a loyal servant of South African football for 15 years dating back to 2010 when she made her debut for the Sasol-sponsored Banyana in Zimbabwe.
In the same year, she made her first World Cup appearance as she was part of the South African team that went to the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago under the watchful eye of coach Solly Luvhengo.
The Capetonian will perhaps best be remembered for almost single-handedly steering Banyana Banyana’s qualification to the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio. She ran almost half the length of the pitch to score a crucial goal on October 2015 against Equatorial Guinea away. Despite South Africa not progressing beyond the group stages in Brazil, Seoposenwe started all three matches in the tournament.
Two years later she helped Banyana claim silver when they lost on penalties to Nigeria in the final of the 2018 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. The top two finish was enough to see South Africa book their tickets to their maiden FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in 2019, where she played only two matches – against China and Spain.
Next up was the history-making achievement in North Africa – Desiree Ellis’ charges were crowned African Champions in 2022 after a great display in Morocco, lifting their first ever continental title.
Seoposenwe was one of the key players, scoring two goals against Nigeria and Tunisia.
The following year she played in her third World Cup – at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The squad rewrote the history books by qualifying for the Round of 16, the only South African national team – male or female – to do so.
The 31-year has had her ups and downs in the national team and did not feature in the squad for a period of about two years due to a delay in her work permit in Mexico – which put a lot of strain on her, especially as many believed she had called it quits.
She eventually returned and continued playing a pivotal role in the team.
Just last year, after the failed 2024 Olympic qualifiers, the Capetonian requested to be excused after a long club season in Mexico. She missed friendly matches against Senegal, Denmark, England and Jamaica.
Seoposenwe became the 10th Banyana player to clock over a century of games – a feat she achieved in February 2024 in the Olympic qualifiers at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga.
The Capetonian was one of the nominees for the 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year.
She is currently on books of Mexican powerhouse Rayadas Monterrey Femenil in the Liga MX Femenil which she joined in June 2023 after leaving Juarez FC.
Here is the full statement from Seoposenwe:
Statement:
Let me start by saying thank you, South Africa, for the opportunity to represent you. It was truly a privilege and an honour to walk onto that field and represent the beautiful people of this country with passion and pride. I’ve made the difficult decision to retire from the Senior National Women’s Football Team, better known as Banyana, after the upcoming Women’s African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Morocco from the 5th to the 26th of July 2025. I know this might come as a surprise to many; however, I felt it was the perfect time. The idea of stepping away has been on my heart for a while, and as I continue to evolve as a human being and a footballer, it has become more evident to me that this is the best decision for my well-being.
As a young girl growing up in South Africa playing football, my dream was always to play for Banyana Banyana. When that dream became a reality, I started working even harder to become one of the best to ever represent my country. I wanted to achieve things with Banyana Banyana that no one had ever done before. But that dream demanded great sacrifice and dedication. It demanded years of heartache, tears, and disappointment. It demanded an even greater character and an unbreakable mentality. Right then and there, I knew I had to fully give my heart and soul to football if I were ever to achieve anything meaningful. I decided to become a player who never gives up, a player who believes, and a player who pushes herself to the limits-because that was how l would succeed. That was how I was going to make the unimaginable a reality, which I eventually did through immense selflessness. I truly believe that I put my heart and soul into representing my country and I’m proud of what I have achieved.
I want to thank everyone who has ever played a role in shaping me into the footballer I am today. But my time has come to an end and I’m passing the torch to the next generation. May you continue to break boundaries. May you continue to fight for change. May you continue to set an example for the little girls watching you. And most importantly, may you continue to bring immense joy to the people of this beautiful country. Lastly, I want to thank my family and the people of South Africa for always supporting me.
JS12
By Matlhomola Morake
