The Long Wait for WAFCON: Banyana Banyana, Sundowns’ dominance and the future of women’s football

For once, it felt as though women’s football in Africa would finally receive the attention it deserves. The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) had originally been scheduled to take place between March and April 2026, immediately after the men’s Africa Cup of Nations. It was an exciting opportunity, for African football fans to move effortlessly from one continental game to another, allowing women’s football to occupy center stage rather than the sidelines.

Instead, the wait became longer.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially rescheduled WAFCON 2026 to run from 25 July to 16 August, mentioning the need to better align the tournament with the global football calendar and ensure optimal preparations. While understandable from an administrative standpoint, the postponement was disappointing for many supporters who had hoped to see the momentum generated by the men’s tournament carry into the women’s game.

Yet, if there is one silver lining, it is that WAFCON 2026 promises to be bigger than any edition before it. For the first time in the competition’s history, the tournament has expanded from 12 to 16 teams, highlighting the rapid growth of women’s football across the continent. Morocco will once again host the tournament, while Nigeria arrives as defending champions after defeating the hosts 3–2 in the previous final, which was delayed and eventually played in 2025.

Desiree Ellis

As the continent prepares for one of the most significant women’s football tournaments in its history, South Africa has announced their squad under head coach Desiree Ellis. Ellis has acknowledged the challenge of defending the title but has also expressed confidence in the team’s preparations and in the blend of experienced internationals and emerging talent at her disposal.

One detail immediately stands out: eleven members of Banyana Banyana’s squad come from Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies. The statistic is hardly surprising. Over the years, Sundowns have established themselves as the dominant force in South African women’s football, consistently producing players capable of competing at both continental and international level.

Their influence extends far beyond trophies. The club has become the backbone of the national team, providing Ellis with a core of players who already understand one another’s movements, strengths and tactical responsibilities. It is a model that has contributed significantly to South Africa’s rise in women’s football and deserves recognition.

However, the future of Banyana Banyana cannot rest on the shoulders of one club alone.

The recent introduction of Kaizer Chiefs Ladies earlier this year offers an encouraging glimpse into what the future of the domestic game could look like. One of South Africa’s biggest football institutions joining the women’s game is more than a symbolic gesture; it represents a potential shift in how women’s football is valued and developed in the country.

In the club’s official announcement, published on the Kaizer Chiefs website on 31 March 2026, chairman Kaizer Motaung described the launch as both a responsibility and an investment in the future of South African football. “This is a proud moment for Kaizer Chiefs. As a Club, we understand the responsibility we carry within South African football, and this step reflects our commitment to growing the game in a meaningful way. Women’s football is an important part of the future, and we are committed to being part of that journey.”

Jessica Motaung, the club’s Marketing and Commercial Director, echoed this sentiment in the same statement, emphasising the importance of creating opportunities for female players. “This is about building real pathways for women in the game. The women’s game is growing rapidly across the world, and South Africa is part of that upward trajectory. We want female soccer players to see this team and understand that there is a place for them within Kaizer Chiefs and within the global game.”

For years, Mamelodi Sundowns have carried the standard for excellence, but greater investment from clubs such as Kaizer Chiefs has the potential to diversify the talent pool available to the national team. A more competitive domestic league would not only strengthen Banyana Banyana in the long term but also create opportunities for players from different regions and backgrounds to emerge.

Women’s football has never lacked talent. What it has often lacked is visibility, investment and sustained support. The expansion of WAFCON, the continued success of clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and the arrival of new teams into the women’s game suggest that change may finally be underway.

WAFCON 2026 is therefore more than a tournament. It is an opportunity to redefine the place of women’s football within Africa’s sporting landscape. The postponement may have delayed the moment many supporters were waiting for, but perhaps the additional months will lead to something even greater, a competition that commands the attention, respect and celebration that women’s football has always deserved.

Sources: Confederation of African Football (CAF); the official Kaizer Chiefs announcement, “Kaizer Chiefs Ladies Officially Unveiled”, published on 31 March 2026; squad announcements and media briefings from the South African Football Association (SAFA).