By OBAKENG MAJE
18 February 2026 – Sasol Banyana Banyana have completed their preparations ahead of the opening match of the regional COSAFA Women’s Championship against Malawi in Polokwane on Wednesday. The two nations go head-to-head in Group A at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium, with a 3pm start.
Banyana Banyana coach, Desiree Ellis said both South Africa and Malawi are using the regional tournament as part of their preparations for the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 scheduled to start in Morocco next month. Ellis said for them, the bigger picture is the WAFCON and they are using this tournament for that – similarly to them (Malawi), this is preparation for the WAFCON.
“What we want to see is that connection, that synergy and obviously you want to win your first game. But it’s also about putting up a good performance – we’re hoping that the girls can put their best foot forward today.
“Some are new internationally, some are not so new, but we want to have a look at as many players as we can during these next two weeks or so to make sure that when we do our final selection for WAFCON we have the mix right,” she said.
Ellis further said South Africans are part of 11 countries taking part in this year’s edition of the COSAFA Women’s Championship alongside Malawi, Lesotho, Angola, (all group A), Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Eswatini, Namibia, (all group B), Mozambique and Madagascar (all group C). She added that the top teams in each group will be joined by the best runner-up in the semi-finals, set for 27 February at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.
“The final has been scheduled for 1 March 2026. Zambia are the reigning champions” said Ellis.
The Guardian 