Banyana Banyana have been to two FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments (France 2019 and Australasia 2023), and on Wednesday (22 October 2025) they begin the journey to attempt to secure their third participation in a row.
But to achieve that, they have to go past a stubborn Democratic Republic of Congo in the two-legged 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers to be played away (Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa) and at home, FNB Stadium in Johannesburg (Tuesday, 28 October).
The overall winner in the two games will qualify for the 2026 WAFCON.
The overseas-based pair of Bongeka Gamede (Denmark) and Linda Motlhalo (Scotland) are in camp, so is Kgaelebane Mohlakoana who plays her football in DR Congo for TP Mazembe.
But the South Africans will be without four key players, all Mexico-based – Amogelang Motau, Sinoxolo Cesane, Thembi Kgatlana and Hilda Magaia – who are expected to meet up with the rest of their teammates when they return from the DRC on Thursday (23 October).
Also missing is Banyana Banyana Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis who is said to be still involved in contract negotiations with the South African Football Association (SAFA). In her absence assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli will lead the team in Kinshasa.
“Obviously, we know it’s going to be tough, they’re playing in front of their home crowd is this thing is a qualifier for WAFCON, the plan is to go back to WAFCON and the only way you can do that is to jump this hurdle which is DR Congo and then qualify for WAFCON,” Mbuli told the media in Kinshasa.
“I think that DR Congo and Banyana Banyana are (in the same boat). We lost our last game at WAFCON to Ghana, but perhaps the advantage to DR Congo is that they were in a tough group with Morocco and Zambia. Those matches, even though DR Congo didn’t make it to the knockouts, might have helped them prepare well for these qualifiers.”
The two nations last met two years ago in November in the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers with the first clash ending in a 1-all draw before South Africa wrapped up the business with a 2-0 win at home – Kgatlana scoring all three goals.
Banyana Banyana got a bye in the previous round while DR Congo progressed after defeating Botswana 2-0 and then played to a goalless draw in the reverse fixture.
Both South Africa and the Central African side last played three months ago at the WAFCON in Morocco – the 2022 continental champions finished fourth, but the DRC failed to get out of the group after suffering losses to Senegal (0-4), Morocco (2-4) and Zambia (0-1).
The stakes are now higher as the top four teams in 2026 will punch their ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil – and that journey starts in Kinshasa.
“It is very important to qualify for the WAFCON, so the results are what is important for the team. With the changes that DRC have, it won’t be easy. So we’ll have to prepare very well and try to get a good result,” said Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane.
Ten other nations will also be involved in battles of their own to secure spots at the 2026 WAFCON which will be hosted by Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that they have increased the number of participating teams to 16 – the first time ever the field will be this big – but they are yet to clarify how they additional four nations will be incorporated since the announcement was made during the qualifiers.
Previously, the WAFCON was an eight-team event between 1998 and 2018.
Second round Fixtures:
By Matlhomola Morake
