Kgatlana Rejoins Banyana Squad – Sportnow

Thembi Kgatlana Set to Rejoin Banyana Banyana for 2025 WAFCON Qualifiers Against DR Congo

Thembi Kgatlana, the 2018 CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year, is set to return to the South African national squad for the qualifiers of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). She was absent from this year’s Women’s AFCON due to personal matters, during which Banyana faced a tough elimination against Nigeria, who ultimately won the championship.

In the tournament, Banyana Banyana secured a fourth-place finish after a nail-biting penalty shootout against Ghana, ending 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, held in Casablanca, Morocco, in July.

“The squad for the upcoming WAFCON 2025 qualifiers against DR Congo has been announced,” SAFA confirmed in their statement.

“The team will meet on 19 October and head to DR Congo the same day. The first leg is slated for Wednesday, 22 October 2025, followed by the return leg at FNB Stadium.”

On Wednesday evening, SAFA announced that Desiree Ellis has been reappointed as head coach of Banyana Banyana under a new five-year contract.

This decision was made following a recent meeting of the SAFA National Executive Committee (NEC), held in Mbombela and chaired by President Danny Jordaan.