Soccer

Banyana back in hostile Morocco for third Wafcon in a row

By Kgomotso Mokoena
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Banyana back in hostile Morocco for third Wafcon in a row
POLOKWANE, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 01: Isabella Alexa Ludwig of South Africa during the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Women's Championship final match between South Africa and Namibia at New Peter Mokaba Stadium on March 01, 2026 in Polokwane, South Africa. (Photo by Philip Maeta/Gallo Images)

Those who have travelled extensively, especially up the continent in north Africa, will comprehend how nauseating it can be covering tournaments in Morocco. You can be easily hoodwinked by the allure of their sultry beaches, the captivating beauty of Casablanca, their efficient transport system, their enchanting historic sites and also their breathtaking stadiums – but the sad reality is that Morocco, as picturesque and charming as it is, can be unpleasant during major international events.

The geo-politics, the fundamentalism can be a little overwhelming. We saw how they treated Senegal supporters in the 2026 Afcon final. Not only did they arrest a bunch of Senegalese supporters, Morocco later snatched the Afcon tournament as if it was a packet of cigarettes via a boardroom ruling.

The matter is still under appeal at the CAS and Senegal are refusing to hand over the trophy that the entire planet witness them winning it inside the pitch. A Moroccan court also handed some fans prison sentences ranging from three months to a year on charges of hooliganism and damaging sporting facilities after a dodgy penalty decision.

So, you got to feel for Banyana Banyana who will be playing their third Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) tournament in Morocco in a space of four years. They say Morocco was repeatedly awarded the Wafcon due to the country’s world-class sporting infrastructure and a lack of competing bids from other countries.

Even though this year’s Wafcon was overshadowed by the recently-concluded 2026 Fifa World Cup, we are still hoping that Banyana are upbeat that they can still reclaim their trophy that they gave away to Nigeria in the last tournament last year.

Banyana have had contrasting results in the last two Wafcons: they won their historic maiden title in 2022 by defeating the same Morocco, but were eliminated in the semi-finals in the 2024 edition, which was postponed and only held last year in June.

In 2022 Banyana were on a high and unstoppable. The team won every single match in their campaign, ending the tournament unbeaten. Coach Desiree Ellis’ players delivered a flawless campaign, defeating Morocco 2–1 in front of their own supporters in hostile Rabat.

Striker Hildah Magaia scored a clinical brace in the space of eight minutes to secure the victory. The team went completely undefeated, winning all six of their matches, scoring seven goals, and conceding only three. Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini was named the goalkeeper of the tournament for her exceptional performance.

For the 2024 edition, also in Morocco, SA arrived as defending champions but fell short of retaining their crown, exiting at the semi-final stage. Banyana started with an unconvincing 2–0 win over Ghana, drew 1–1 with Tanzania, and beat Mali 4–0 to top Group C. In the quarterfinals, South Africa squeezed past Senegal 4–1 on penalties after a dull 0–0 draw across extra time.

But their journey ended with heartbreak in the semi-finals, losing to eventual champions Nigeria. The campaign was heavily impacted by the absence of star forward Thembi Kgatlana due to injury – Kgatlana was a major role player and star at the 2022 Wafcon and the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

This week, Banyana players and the technical team settled down nicely in camp in Casablanca with a full complement of players, something that left Ellis with a big grin. They will open their campaign against Tanzania tomorrow (Monday). They will then face Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Group D.

We hope that Ellis and the girls can rekindle the spirit of 2022 where they won the tournament, touched the hearts of South Africans and united the country.

  • Morocco’s hosting of major tournaments like Afcon and Wafcon is marred by geopolitical tensions and controversial incidents, such as the treatment of Senegal supporters and legal disputes over the 2026 Afcon trophy.
  • Banyana Banyana are competing in their third Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco within four years, with the country repeatedly awarded hosting rights due to strong infrastructure and lack of rivals.
  • South Africa won their first Wafcon title in 2022 in Morocco, going undefeated and beating Morocco 2-1 in the final, with standout performances from Hildah Magaia and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini.
  • In the 2024 Wafcon, Banyana Banyana were eliminated in the semi-finals by Nigeria, hampered by the absence of key striker Thembi Kgatlana due to injury.
  • The team is now preparing in Casablanca for the current Wafcon, optimistic about recapturing their 2022 form as they begin group matches against Tanzania, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso.
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Those who have travelled extensively, especially up the continent in north Africa, will comprehend how nauseating it can be covering tournaments in Morocco. You can be easily hoodwinked by the allure of their sultry beaches, the captivating beauty of Casablanca, their efficient transport system, their enchanting historic sites and also their breathtaking stadiums – but the sad reality is that Morocco, as picturesque and charming as it is, can be unpleasant during major international events.

The geo-politics, the fundamentalism can be a little overwhelming. We saw how they treated Senegal supporters in the 2026 Afcon final. Not only did they arrest a bunch of Senegalese supporters, Morocco later snatched the Afcon tournament as if it was a packet of cigarettes via a boardroom ruling.

The matter is still under appeal at the CAS and Senegal are refusing to hand over the trophy that the entire planet witness them winning it inside the pitch. A Moroccan court also handed some fans prison sentences ranging from three months to a year on charges of hooliganism and damaging sporting facilities after a dodgy penalty decision.

So, you got to feel for Banyana Banyana who will be playing their third Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) tournament in Morocco in a space of four years. They say Morocco was repeatedly awarded the Wafcon due to the country’s world-class sporting infrastructure and a lack of competing bids from other countries.

Even though this year’s Wafcon was overshadowed by the recently-concluded 2026 Fifa World Cup, we are still hoping that Banyana are upbeat that they can still reclaim their trophy that they gave away to Nigeria in the last tournament last year.

Banyana have had contrasting results in the last two Wafcons: they won their historic maiden title in 2022 by defeating the same Morocco, but were eliminated in the semi-finals in the 2024 edition, which was postponed and only held last year in June.

In 2022 Banyana were on a high and unstoppable. The team won every single match in their campaign, ending the tournament unbeaten. Coach Desiree Ellis’ players delivered a flawless campaign, defeating Morocco 2–1 in front of their own supporters in hostile Rabat.

Striker Hildah Magaia scored a clinical brace in the space of eight minutes to secure the victory. The team went completely undefeated, winning all six of their matches, scoring seven goals, and conceding only three. Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini was named the goalkeeper of the tournament for her exceptional performance.

For the 2024 edition, also in Morocco, SA arrived as defending champions but fell short of retaining their crown, exiting at the semi-final stage. Banyana started with an unconvincing 2–0 win over Ghana, drew 1–1 with Tanzania, and beat Mali 4–0 to top Group C. In the quarterfinals, South Africa squeezed past Senegal 4–1 on penalties after a dull 0–0 draw across extra time.

But their journey ended with heartbreak in the semi-finals, losing to eventual champions Nigeria. The campaign was heavily impacted by the absence of star forward Thembi Kgatlana due to injury – Kgatlana was a major role player and star at the 2022 Wafcon and the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

This week, Banyana players and the technical team settled down nicely in camp in Casablanca with a full complement of players, something that left Ellis with a big grin. They will open their campaign against Tanzania tomorrow (Monday). They will then face Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso in Group D.

We hope that Ellis and the girls can rekindle the spirit of 2022 where they won the tournament, touched the hearts of South Africans and united the country.