Thembi Kgatlana of Banyana Banyana goes on the offensive during their 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against DR Congo at Dobsonville Stadium on 28 October 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images) 
Banyana Banyana have qualified for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) after defeating Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 on aggregate in their second-round qualifying encounter. The first leg, played in Kinshasa, ended 1-1.
But Banyana won the second leg 1-0 in Soweto on Tuesday, 28 October 2025. The South Africans knew that they could not just depend on the fact that they had scored an away goal. Fleet-footed forward Thembi Kgatlana was the match-winner after being absent from the team for months.
Having been denied by Congolese goalkeeper Khonde Kashala on numerous occasions during the clash, Kgatlana finally broke the deadlock in the dying moments of the game. The win ensured that Banyana Banyana sealed a ticket to their 15th Wafcon tournament.
Crucial qualifier
The match was doubly important to win because next year’s Wafcon will also serve as a qualifier for the 2027 women’s soccer World Cup.
“We had to win. We had to. Yes, we were frustrated towards the end of the game because it was 0-0 and they were coming at us. One mistake, you concede and then you are out. I give credit to the defenders for absorbing the pressure,” said Banyana Banyana assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli.
Of course, the team still needs to perform at next year’s Wafcon, which will be held in Morocco. Only the top four teams are guaranteed space at the World Cup — which will be hosted by Brazil. Banyana Banyana have qualified for every single World Cup since making their global debut in 2019.
South Africa’s fixtures against their Congolese counterparts were overshadowed by the uncertainty surrounding head coach Desiree Ellis. For both games the long-serving coach was absent from the bench, although she was in the stands as a spectator for the second leg at Dobsonville Stadium.
Part of the team
Prior to the victory against the Leopardesses, Mbuli said that Ellis had been in close contact with the technical team — offering guidance as her contract negotiations with the South African Football Association (Safa) continue.
“She has been in contact with us… Just to say she’s still with us. We discuss training, we discuss everything. She’s still very much part of this group,” said Mbuli on Ellis’ situation.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TL_2429234.jpg "Banyana coach Desiree Ellis. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TL_2477423.jpg "Banyana assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images)")
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/TL_2477459.jpg "Refiloe Jane of South Africa in possession against DR Congo at Dobsonville Stadium. (Photo: Sydney Seshibedi / Gallo Images)")
Safa offered Ellis a four-year contract recently. But the coach has yet to accept the terms of the new deal. This after working on a month-to-month basis since the expiry of her previous contract more than a year ago.
Ellis, who is a four-time African Coach of the Year, is said to be displeased with the monetary aspects of the new deal.
Looking forward
Mbuli also shed some light on the juggling that the team will have to do in the coming months as they prepare for next year’s Wafcon.
“We have an international window that’s coming up now in November, which is the last window for the year. We’re hoping we can get a friendly match because the tricky part for us now is that Wafcon is in March and our local league is off during that time,” Mbuli said.
“Our players will be off in December and by the beginning of March, Wafcon kicks off. We’re going to have to find a balance between players going off season and remaining active.”
Alongside South Africa, Morocco (as host nation), Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia have qualified for the 2026 Wafcon. DM