Banyana Banyana’s WAFCON Collapse Exposes SAFA’s Failure to Back Women’s Football

• Banyana Banyana finished fourth at the 2025 WAFCON after a troubled build-up plagued by player strikes and off-field issues
• Veteran star Jermaine Seoposenwe announced her international retirement, citing poor treatment and lack of support for women’s football
• Football journalist Brighton Bafana told Briefly News that SAFA failed to build on the 2022 WAFCON triumph, calling it a missed opportunity

South Africa’s women’s national football team, Banyana Banyana, endured a disappointing outing at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, finishing fourth after a 4-3 defeat to Ghana in the third-place play-off.

Their underwhelming campaign was marred by turmoil both on and off the pitch. In the days leading up to the tournament, the team’s preparations were thrown into disarray following reports of a player strike. The protest stemmed from unresolved payment issues, with players allegedly owed match fees from friendly fixtures played as far back as April.

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Adding to the chaos, head coach Desiree Ellis entered the tournament without a formal contract, a situation that has persisted since the 2022 WAFCON. Star forward Thembi Kgatlana also withdrew from the squad due to personal reasons, depriving the team of one of its key attacking threats.

One of the longest-standing sponsors of women’s football in the country, Sasol, pulled out after 16 years of support. This move could worsen an already dire situation.

Speaking exclusively to Briefly News, respected football journalist Brighton Bafana described the unfolding crisis as a major setback for the women’s game in South Africa.

“The Sasol sponsorship was worth in the region of R30 million per year. About R16 million went to Banyana and the rest to the Sasol Women’s League. Now this will further cripple the game. One almost feels like the Danny Jordaan-led SAFA needs to step down and give other people a chance to run the game, people who will bring investor confidence. It is difficult to invest in something that is continuously beleaguered, and that is the current state of SAFA.”

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Veteran forward Jermaine Seoposenwe, one of Banyana Banyana’s most capped players, recently announced her retirement from international football. In an emotional revelation, she cited ongoing financial challenges, inadequate facilities during training camps, and a general lack of respect for women’s football in the country.

“I think a couple of months ago, we were talking about the disparity in the salaries between the Amajita coach and the Bafana Bafana coach. But no one is talking about the inequalities when it comes to Banyana Banyana and Bafana Bafana. The other does not always perform to the level of the other, yet the salaries and conditions of work differ marginally. It is criminal and something that needs to be solved at the administrative level. The sad part is that the SAFA CEO is a woman, but look at how unhappy the girls are.”

The 2022 triumph in Morocco marked a historic milestone for South African football, Banyana Banyana’s first-ever WAFCON title. Many hoped it would be a turning point, prompting the South African Football Association (SAFA) to invest more seriously in the women’s game.

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“There was so much potential to capitalise on that golden moment,” Bafana reflected.

“But instead, we’ve regressed. That’s the painful truth.”

As Women’s Month kicks off in August, questions remain about the long-term vision for Banyana Banyana. The team’s struggles highlight deep-rooted issues in governance, planning, and gender parity within South African football, a reality that continues to cast a shadow over one of the nation’s proudest sporting achievements.

Football journalist predicts MTN8 outcomes

Briefly News previously reported that a football expert has made predictions for this weekend's MTN8.

Four games will be played, with two on Saturday and another two on Sunday. The defending winners are Orlando Pirates who will be on a mission to win it for the fourth successive year.

Source: Briefly News