Banyana Banyana suffers unexpected defeat to Tanzania early in WAFCON campaign

The Banyana Banyana team began its campaign at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations with a shocking 2-1 defeat to the Tanzanian national team. The match took place at the Moulay Rashid Stadium in Morocco on Monday.

Match Progression and Early Events

The South African national team, which entered the tournament with great optimism and appeared to be the more dangerous side from the first minutes, controlled possession during the initial phases of the game. Within the first twenty minutes, the team created three promising chances, but a lack of composure in front of goal prevented them from scoring an early goal.

Tanzania, for its part, preferred to play deep, defending with numerical superiority and waiting for opportunities on counterattacks. Despite finding it difficult to maintain pressure, the East Africans showed moments of danger in their attacks. Their patience paid off in the 38th minute thanks to the individual skill of forward Diana Msewa, based in Turkey.

Msewa received the ball in her half, broke through the South African defense, bypassed several defenders, and calmly sent the ball past goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, opening an unexpected lead for Tanzania.

Goals and Tactical Changes

Although the goal was scored against the run of play, Banyana continued to attack in search of an immediate response. Their persistence was rewarded in stoppage time of the first half when defender Bambanani Mbene reacted quickest in the penalty area. After the Tanzanian goalkeeper deflected the first shot back into the cluster of players in the six-yard box, Mbene finished the ball from close range, leveling the score at 1-1.

During the break, the coaching staff under Desiré Ellis made an attacking substitution: midfielder Robin Mudali-Salgado was replaced by forward Ntabiseng Majie, as South Africa switched to a more aggressive 4-4-2 formation in pursuit of a winning goal. However, this tactical adjustment unexpectedly created more space for Tanzania to exploit on counterattacks.

As the second half progressed, the East Africans became increasingly dangerous, stretching the South African defense and forcing Banyana to retreat several times. Although South Africa had more possession, it failed to create clear goal-scoring opportunities, which were characteristic of its performance in the first half.

Tanzania capitalized on this vulnerability three minutes before the end of the match. Substitute Hasnat Ubamba found space in the penalty area and scored the decisive goal in the 87th minute, securing one of the tournament's biggest surprises so far.

Now Banyana must focus on the mandatory Group B match on Friday against Costa d'Mar, knowing that another defeat will jeopardize its chances of reaching the playoffs.

iol.co.zaJuly 24, 19:00

What to try in Morocco during the WAFCON 2026 matches featuring Banyana Banyana

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.

The Road to the World Tournament

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 for Fans

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.

Iconic Moroccan 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.

Options for Seafood Lovers

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.

Snacks for Match Day

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.

Sweet Finish and Drinks

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.

iol.co.zaJuly 16, 08:30

Banyana Banyana team aims for top four at Wafcon 2026 in Morocco

The Banyana Banyana team is actively preparing for its return to the Wafcon tournament with the goal of winning the continental trophy, which they won in Morocco in 2022.

Goals for the upcoming tournament

Before the start of Wafcon 2026 in Morocco, the team has a clear objective: to secure a spot in the top four of the competition to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, which will be held in Brazil. However, coach Disari Ellis admits that achieving this goal will not be easy.

Previous experience and pressure

Banyana Banyana will return to Morocco at the end of this month, striving to make up for lost time. In the previous tournament, the team showed a disappointing result, losing the title to their fierce rivals from Nigeria and finishing fourth overall. This result cast doubt on Ellis's future, especially after forward Jermaine Seoposenwe publicly criticized the coach for failing to protect the squad from administrative shortcomings by SAFA, particularly concerning player bonuses before major events.

Contract confirmation and strategy

Nevertheless, Ellis managed to overcome this turbulence and extend her contract. Given the lengthy negotiations regarding the new agreement, she enters the tournament with a strict mandate: to return to the Wafcon podium and secure her place in the next global event. During a press day at the AW Muller Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, Ellis emphasized that all team players are unanimously focused before departure.

Ellis stated: 'We had a meeting with the group and senior players, as we always do. They know what is at stake.' She added that she spoke with many players, and they all say the same thing: 'qualifying for the World Cup is the ultimate goal.' She also noted that past experience helps, and for other players, it will be their first time, so they need to ensure everyone is on the same page.

Squad and match preparation

Ellis has formed a preliminary squad of 31 players, combining youth and experienced athletes, which will be reduced to 26 people before leaving for Morocco on Saturday. The coach expects every player to meet expectations. In 16 days, 16 countries will fight for African glory.

Speaking about the pressure, Ellis added: 'It is always hard to tell someone what to expect when you cannot predict how they will react to pressure. But we always preach the idea of how important it is to rise to a new level. Ultimately, 11 people take the field, but the entire squad must be ready to contribute.'

Familiarization with Moroccan conditions

This trip marks Banyana's third participation in Wafcon in Morocco, following a victorious debut in 2022 and a poor performance last year. Thanks to this familiarity, Ellis hopes her team will easily adapt to the local conditions. She clarified that although they are not staying in the same locations as before (first time - Oudjda, second - Rabat, and now the base is in Casablanca), Morocco remains Morocco, just as South Africa is South Africa. The team is accustomed to the environment, knows it will be hot and conditions will be tough, but they are planning for it, so the departure is scheduled for Saturday to give them enough time to acclimatize.

Group opponents analysis

Banyana desperately seeks to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, building on their debut in 2019 and successful playoff run in 2023. However, before looking towards Brazil, they must pass the Wafcon group stage and win the decisive quarter-final match. Ellis studied their group opponents: Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire.

The coach analyzed the opponents, noting that Tanzania will likely want to play football, while Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire are very physical teams. She added that they have played against physical teams a lot over the past year, both at Wafcon and during qualifiers. The team knows that opponents will try to use long balls, and they are training intensively to counter this. Ellis concluded that despite all the preparation, football comes down to execution on match day. She reminded them that they always said that if they kept a 'clean sheet' (did not concede a goal), they would create chances, and now they need to be clinical in front of goal when those opportunities arise.