Banyana Banyana Have Confirmed the Return of Star Striker Thembi Kgatlana
South Africa's national women's soccer team, Banyana Banyana, has announced the return of renowned striker Thembi Kgatlana for the upcoming 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifiers against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
Kgatlana, who was named the 2018 CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year, was absent during South Africa’s title defence at this year's Women’s AFCON due to personal reasons. Banyana Banyana faced elimination at the hands of Nigeria, who went on to clinch the tournament title.
The team secured a fourth-place finish after narrowly losing 4-3 on penalties to Ghana in the third-place playoff, which concluded 1-1 after regular time in Casablanca, Morocco, in July.
“The Banyana Banyana squad to face DR Congo in the WAFCON 2025 qualifiers has been named,” stated the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The squad will assemble on 19 October and will depart for DR Congo on the same day. The first leg of the qualifiers is scheduled for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, while the return match will take place at FNB Stadium.
Furthermore, SAFA has announced the reappointment of Desiree Ellis as the head coach of Banyana Banyana on a new five-year deal. This decision follows a meeting of the SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC) held in Mbombela this week, chaired by President Danny Jordaan.
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