Picture: Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis
By OBAKENG MAJE
14 February 2026 – Sasol Banyana Banyana’s road to the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup begins in earnest when they participate in this year’s 2025 COSAFA Women’s Championship. A few days ago, Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis announced a 38-member squad in preparation for an alignment camp for the COSAFA Women’s Championship and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The team went into camp on 13 February 2026, in preparation for the two tournaments to be played this year. The WAFCON is scheduled to take place in Morocco from 17-3 April 2026, while the COSAFA Women’s Championship will be held in Polokwane, South Africa, from 18 February – 1 March 2026.
Ellis said she will use the regional tournament as part of her preparations for WAFCON and a squad made up of only local-based players will assemble for camp in Johannesburg on Friday before making their way to Limpopo on Sunday. She said the overseas-based contingent is expected to start arriving from 25 February 2026, in line with the FIFA calendar window.
“The squad will be trimmed down to the required number after the COSAFA Women’s Championship before they travel to North Africa. In the regional tournament, the South African senior women’s national team was drawn in Group A alongside Malawi, Lesotho and Angola.
“The 2022 African Champions will kick off the competition with a clash against the Scorchers of Malawi on Wednesday, 18 February 2026 at the Seshego Stadium. The action will move to the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in the next two matches where the South Africans will host Angola on 21 February 2026, followed by the last group stages game against Lesotho on 24 February 2026,” said Ellis.
Kickoff for all three fixtures is at 3pm. The semi-final clashes have been scheduled for 27 February 2026.
She further said there is a third-place play-off match on 1 March at midday, which will precede the final scheduled for 3pm on the same day at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium. Ellis added that in the WAFCON, Banyana Banyana will face off against the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.
“For the first time in the history of the competition, 16 nations will take part and the top four will qualify for the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Guardian 