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South Africa women's national soccer team
Women's national association football team representing South Africa From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The South Africa women's national football team represents South Africa in women's international soccer and is run by the South African Football Association, the governing body for Soccer in South Africa. Nicknamed Banyana Banyana (The Girls in Sesotho).
South Africa competed in two Olympic Games, two FIFA Women's World Cups, and 14 Women's African Cup of Nations, where they were runners up five times before winning once. They also competed at all 10 COSAFA Women's Championships, where they won seven times, came second thrice and finished in fourth place once.
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History
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Banyana Banyana's first official match was held on 30 May 1993 against Eswatini, which they won 14–0. Future Women's AFCON winning coach Desiree Ellis played in that game and scored three of the goals[2]
Their first international match outside of Africa was against China. They played two matches which they lost 8–0 and 13–0 with the latter being the heaviest defeat in their history. The team's first victory over a nation outside of Africa was in 2000, where they beat Scotland by 2–0. This was at the Cyrus Women's Cup.[3]
South Africa's biggest win came in a COSAFA Women's Championship match in Gqeberha on 31 July 2019, when they beat the Comoros 17–0. Captain Refiloe Jane scored 4 of the goals.[4][5]
Olympic Games
They qualified for Olympic football for the first time in 2012, with coach Joseph Mkhonza.[6] Their second Olympic participation was at 2016's Rio Olympics, under coach Vera Pauw.
Women's Africa Cup of Nations
Banyana appeared in 14 CAF Women's Championships (Now known as Women's AFCON) and were runners up on five occasions (1995, 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018) and third at two events (2006 and 2010), before eventually winning their first Women's Africa Cup of Nations in 2022, beating Morocco 2–1 in the final.[7]
FIFA Women's World Cup
Coached by Desiree Ellis, they qualified for their first FIFA Women's World Cup in 2019, in Group B with Germany, Spain and China. However, they lost all matches, and their only goal was against Spain when they went to a 1–0 lead only to lose 3–1.
South Africa qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup again in 2023, also coached by Desiree Ellis. During the group stages they lost 2–1 to Sweden after leading 1–0, drew 2–2 against Argentina after leading 2–0, but finally defeated Italy 3–2 and advanced to the Round of 16 for the very first time. They eventually lost 2–0 to the Netherlands.[8] Following the team's performance, Desiree Ellis would win the 2023 award for CAF Women's Coach of the Year.[9]
The top goal scorers at world cups are Thembi Kgatlana with 3, Hildah Magaia with 2, while Linda Motlhalo also scored one. South Africa's other goal was an own goal by Italy in 2023.
COSAFA Women's Championship
South Africa competed in all eleven COSAFA Women's Championships – a tournament featuring nations from the Southern African region – since its inception in 2002. They have won seven titles (in 2002, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020), finished second twice (in 2011 and 2022) and only failed to win a medal twice, when they finished fourth in 2021 and exited in the group stages 2023.[10]
In later years, because of South Africa's success and increased participation in bigger world events, management started sending newcomers to COSAFA tournaments, to broaden their talent pool. This contributed to a decline in Banyana Banyana's dominance at this event.[11]
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Team image
Nicknames
The South Africa women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Banyana Banyana", which literally translates to "Girls Girls", but such double use is often interpreted to mean "all the girls". In the context of sport, it is also understood to mean "go girls, go girls".
This name is derived from the Senior Men's National team being "Bafana Bafana" which also literally means "the boys the boys". The nickname came into existence from fans shouting "bafana bafana" to mean "go boys, go boys" as encouragement during the South Africa men's team's first international game after many years of sporting isolation due to Apartheid policies in 1992, when they beat Cameroon 1–0 in Durban. The name stuck, and the female form was later applied to the women's team as well.

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Results and fixtures
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The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Loss Fixture
2024
22 October 2024 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
17:00 UTC+2 | Motlogelwa ![]() |
Report | Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Referee: Thanks Nyahuye (Zimbabwe) |
25 October 2024 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Ibhayi, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia) |
25 October Friendly | Denmark ![]() | 5–0 | ![]() | Aalborg, Denmark |
18:00 UTC+1 |
|
Stadium: Aalborg Stadium |
28 October 2024 COSAFA WC GS | South Africa ![]() | 8–1 | ![]() | Gqeberha, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Madibaz Stadium Referee: Grace Gimo (Zimbabwe) |
29 October Friendly | England ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Coventry, England |
Stadium: Coventry Arena |
31 October 2024 COSAFA WC SF | South Africa ![]() | 1–1 (4–1 p) | ![]() | Ibhayi, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Motlogelwa ![]() |
Report | Célia ![]() |
Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium Referee: Mercy Mayimbo (Zimbabwe) |
Penalties | ||||
|
2 November 2024 COSAFA WC F | Zambia ![]() | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | ![]() | Ibhayi, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium Referee: Antsino Twanyanyukwa (Namibia) | ||
Penalties | ||||
|
29 November Friendly | Jamaica ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Montego Bay, Jamaica |
2 December Friendly | Jamaica ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() | Montego Bay, Jamaica |
2025
22 February Friendly | South Africa ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Johannesburg, South Africa |
13:00 UTC+2 | Mdelwa ![]() |
Report | Stadium: UJ Soweto Campus |
25 February Friendly | South Africa ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Johannesburg, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: UJ Soweto Campus |
5 April Friendly | South Africa ![]() | 3–0 | ![]() | Johannesburg, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: UJ Soweto Campus |
8 April Friendly | South Africa ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Pretoria, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 | Report |
|
Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium |
28 May Nations Challenge | South Africa ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() | Pretoria, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium Player of the Match: Karabo Dhlamini (South Africa) |
3 June Nations Challenge | South Africa ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Pretoria, South Africa |
15:00 UTC+2 |
|
Report | Stadium: Lucas Moripe Stadium Referee: Vistoria Shangula (Namibia) |
28 June Unofficial Friendly | South Africa ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Mohammedia, Morocco |
15:30 UTC+1 | Stadium: Lanoria Club |
7 July CAF WAFCON 2024 GS | South Africa ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() | Oujda, Morocco |
17:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Honneur Stadium Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) |
11 July CAF WAFCON 2024 GS | Tanzania ![]() | 1−1 | ![]() | Oujda, Morocco |
20:00 UTC+1 |
|
Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Natacha Konan (Ivory Coast) |
14 July CAF WAFCON 2024 GS | South Africa ![]() | 4−0 | ![]() | Oujda, Morocco |
20:00 | Report | Stadium: Honneur Stadium Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco) |
19 July CAF WAFCON 2024 QF | South Africa ![]() | 0−0 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) | ![]() | Oujda, Morocco |
21:00 | Report | Stadium: Honneur Stadium Referee: Shahenda El Maghrabi (Egypt) | ||
Penalties | ||||
22 July CAF WAFCON 2024 SF | Nigeria ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Casablanca, Morocco |
18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda) |
25 July CAF WAFCON 2024 3rd | Ghana ![]() | 1–1 (4–3 p) | ![]() | Casablanca, Morocco |
21:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium Referee: Shahenda El Maghrabi (Egypt) | |
Penalties | ||||
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Coaching staff
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Current coaching staff
Technical staff
Manager history
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Players
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Current Squad
- The following 24 players were called up for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, taking place from 5 to 27 July 2025.[20] Nthabiseng Majiya and Casey Gordon were named as standby players and will train with the squad until the team's departure to Morocco.[21]
Caps and goals are correct as of 13 July 2025,
Recent call ups
The following players were called up to the squad within the past 12 months.
Previous squads
- FIFA Women's World Cup
- Summer Olympics
- Africa Women Cup of Nations
- 2000 African Women's Championship squad
- 2010 African Women's Championship squad
- 2012 African Women's Championship squad
- 2014 African Women's Championship squad
- 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations squad
- 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations squad
- 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations squad
- COSAFA Women's Championship
- 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- 2021 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- 2022 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- 2023 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- 2024 COSAFA Women's Championship squad
- Turkish Women's Cup
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Records
- Active players in bold, statistics correct as of 2025.
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Honours
Major competitions
Continental
Regional
- Competition organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, officially not recognized by FIFA.
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Competitive record
FIFA Women's World Cup
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Olympic Games
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
Africa Women Cup of Nations
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
African Games
COSAFA Women's Championship
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
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All−time record against FIFA recognized nations
The list shown below shows the women's South Africa national soccer team's all−time international record against opposing nations.
*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx.
- Key
Positive balance (more wins than losses)
Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
Negative balance (more losses than wins)
Record per opponent
*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx.
- Key
Positive balance (more wins than losses)
Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
Negative balance (more losses than wins)
The following table shows South Africa's all-time official international record per opponent:
See also
- National teams
- South Africa women's national football team
- South Africa women's national football team results
- South Africa women's national under-20 soccer team
- South Africa women's national under-17 soccer team
- South Africa women's national under-15 soccer team
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References
External links
Wikiwand - on
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