Banyana Banyana is returning to the continental arena with the start of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which kicks off in Morocco on Sunday, July 26. The team, led by coach Dr. Desiree Ellis, aims to reclaim the African champions title they won in 2022 and is vying for another major trophy.
Reaching the semi-finals of the tournament will qualify South Africa for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, which will be held in Brazil. All three group B matches for the South African team will take place at the Moulay Rashid Stadium in Casablanca, giving fans many reasons to gather for match celebrations.
Moroccan cuisine is known for its rich flavors, aromatic herbs and spices, as well as dishes meant for sharing. If you want to bring a taste of Morocco to your viewing party, it is best to utilize the country's favorite dishes.
Tagine is one of the most famous dishes in Morocco and the foundation of its culinary tradition. Named after the clay pot in which it is traditionally cooked, this slow-cooked dish is rich in flavor. Among the most well-known recipes is chicken tagine with preserved lemons and olives, where tender meat, salty olives, and tart preserved lemons create a comforting dish, perfect for a football gathering. Another popular option is kefta tagine, made from minced beef or lamb simmered in a tomato sauce, often topped with eggs cooked right in the sauce, making it suitable for a communal table.
Couscous is considered the national dish of Morocco and is often served on Fridays and during celebrations. The classic version consists of light steamed couscous topped with vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, cabbage, zucchini, turnip, and chickpeas. Adding sweet caramelized onions provides another layer of flavor, making it a hearty dish before the game.
If you prefer seafood, sea bream is an excellent choice. Fresh fish is marinated in cilantro, garlic, cumin, paprika, lemon juice, and olive oil, then fried until tender.
Watching football requires snacks, and Morocco offers many options. Msemmen is a layered flatbread with a crispy exterior and soft interior, while Batbout is a fluffy pocket bread, ideal for filling with fried meat, vegetables, or spreads. Maqouada, one of Morocco's favorite street snacks, is also popular. These crispy potato fritters are seasoned with garlic, cumin, and fresh herbs before being fried to a golden color. They can be eaten on their own or served with spicy harissa. For a lighter snack, Zaalouk—a smoky paste made from eggplant and tomatoes, seasoned with cumin and paprika—is suitable. It is convenient to eat with warm bread between goals.
If the match enters a tense second half, a soothing bowl of Harira soup can be the perfect addition. Made from tomatoes, lentils, chickpeas, and herbs, it is one of Morocco's most famous dishes and is often accompanied by dates or traditional seed pastries. For dessert, Kaab el Ghazal, also known as gazelle horns, offers a sweet finish. These crescent-shaped pastries are filled with almond paste and flavored with rose water. To complete the experience, serve a glass of traditional Moroccan mint tea. Made from green tea, fresh mint, and sugar, it is a symbol of Moroccan hospitality and the ideal drink to support Banyana Banyana in their pursuit of another WAFCON title.
Princess Sile Mdhluli, also known as Ndlunkulu (Queen) Maveve, shared her joy following the successful completion of lobola negotiations with monarch Amazululu King Misuzulu Kazvelitini.
On Saturday, July 18, King Misuzulu, accompanied by a delegation of senior royal officials, traveled to the village of Nkomazi in the Mpumalanga province to officially conduct and finalize the lobola process with the Mdhluli family. According to reports, during traditional rites, the King presented the family with a lobola of 70 cattle heads and gave additional gifts.
After the festivities, Mdhluli posted photos on Instagram showcasing both the lobola negotiations and the umembeso ceremony. She captioned the post simply: '18/07/2026 🐄'. For this event, Mdhluli was dressed in a vibrant traditional dress of royal blue with black and gold elements. Her regal appearance was complemented by the ligavalagwala crown, made from feathers of the purple-throated turaco, which is the national royal symbol of Eswatini and traditionally reserved for members of the royal family.
Some pictures show the new queen, radiant with happiness, during the traditional celebrations, dancing and singing with family and guests. Her post quickly filled with congratulations from supporters. Princess Mdhluli hails from the Maveve Traditional Council in Mpumalanga, where her mother, Inkosi Khulile Mkhwatshwa, holds the position of traditional leader. According to available information, she has already settled in the Mashobeni Royal Palace in Pongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal. The couple's royal wedding is expected later this year.
Recent discussions surrounding the football match between Argentina and Egypt in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup primarily focused on the sporting event itself, especially in light of accusations of biased refereeing in favor of Argentina from FIFA.
However, public sentiment in the Arab world reflected local political realities. While social media serves as a plausible, albeit unscientific, barometer of public opinion, it indicates overwhelming support for the Egyptian team, even among those who oppose the poor human rights situation under the regime.
Like fans worldwide, many Arab supporters are divided into camps: proponents of Argentine captain Lionel Messi and Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo. These fan groups have acquired an almost cult-like character, supporting either Messi or Ronaldo regardless of the tournament or team.
Nevertheless, the Egypt versus Argentina match became a rare instance where these individual allegiances took a backseat, and Arab fans united.
This is significant because over the last decade, the Arab world has faced growing attempts to undermine regional unity. Many regimes have sought to create national narratives that isolate their people from the wider region, thereby concealing their own failures.
But the solidarity and sympathy shown by fans across the region for Egypt—from Mauritania to Oman—demonstrated the failure of these efforts to dismantle the region's historical, cultural, linguistic, and religious ties.
Even before the controversial match against Argentina, the Egyptian team attracted significant attention and support throughout the Arab world, and this was not solely due to impressive play in the previous round.
Egypt's coach Hossam Hassan displayed the Palestinian flag on the field after his team's victory over Australia and advancement to the Round of 16. He received praise from many Arab commentators for dedicating his team's victory to the Egyptian and Palestinian peoples. He did not back down when some critics criticized him for including Palestinians instead of focusing only on the Egyptian people.
Despite years of political division, Arabs across the region maintain a shared identity and common goals.
In a subsequent press conference before the match with Argentina, Hassan called on the world to support the Palestinian people and end their suffering, drawing new global attention to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Palestinians in Gaza celebrated Hassan's gesture, gathering near the ruins of their homes to watch the Egypt versus Argentina match on large screens. Highlighting the ongoing tragedy, Israeli forces killed Mohammed Al-Wahidi, a Palestinian assistant who organized the screenings, just moments before the match began.
These events highlighted the special bond between Egyptians and Palestinians from Gaza, as well as the central role of the Palestinian cause for all Arabs.
Some social media observers noted that Hassan's decision to dedicate the victory to the Palestinian people and raise the Palestinian flag was more important than the outcome of the Egypt-Argentina match.
Beyond putting pan-Arab unity at the forefront, Egypt's final match in the World Cup and the sense of injustice felt by the Egyptian team and its fans highlighted another injustice—on the domestic front.
Former political prisoners in Egypt and the families of current detainees expressed sympathy for the national team but also used the opportunity to remind Egyptians of the problems they face at home.
While fans expressed outrage over the results of the Egypt-Argentina game, Gamal Eid, one of Egypt's most prominent human rights lawyers, posted on Facebook, questioning why the same level of public indignation could not be directed at the ongoing injustice in the country's prisons.
At the same time, Egyptians in exile questioned why they were denied the right to celebrate the national team's participation in the World Cup within Egypt.
Many Western commentators argue that sport should remain separate from politics. However, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, European teams and sports organizations used the 2022 World Cup and other tournaments to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
For many Arabs, sport has always been closely intertwined with politics. The 2026 World Cup provided an opportunity for the public expression of 'Arabness,' demonstrating that despite years of political fragmentation, Arabs across the region still share a common identity and common goals: primarily Palestine.
