Banyana Banyana Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis has announced a preliminary squad of 31 players for the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) to be held in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August 2026.

The squad will be trimmed down to 26 players who will travel to North Africa for the women’s continental football showpiece later this month.

Dr Ellis has kept the bulk of the team that has been doing duty for the South African Senior Women’s National team over the past few months, with the notable inclusion of Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Ronnel Donnelly and Cimone Sauls, who have not been seen in Banyana Banyana colours in a long time.

The 2022 African Champions go into camp on Sunday, 12 July and will depart for Morocco on Saturday, 18 July.

Banyana Banyana are in Group B alongside the Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania. Dr Ellis’ charges will be based in Casablanca and open their account with a clash against the Tanzanians on Monday, 27 July, followed by a match against Ivory Coast four days later (Friday, 31 July), while the final group stage fixture has been scheduled for Tuesday, 4 August.

Banyana Banyana will play all their group stage matches at the Moulay Rachid Stadium. South Africa finished fourth in the 2024 tournament, with Nigeria lifting the trophy.

The top four nations at the 2026 WAFCON will automatically qualify for the Brazil 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier.