African champions Banyana Banyana have finally settled in Morocco following a more than 24-hour long journey from Johannesburg that included delayed flights and a lay-over in Ghana.
The Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s national team departed from OR Tambo International Airport on Tuesday (24 June 2025) and arrived in Morocco on Wednesday (25 June 2025) to conclude their final preparations ahead of the start of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which is scheduled to be staged from 5-26 July 2025.
“It was a long and tiring trip, but we have arrived and nicely settled in, and we managed to have our first training session,” said Banyana Banyana head coach Dr Desiree Ellis.
The South Africans are currently in Casablanca for the final leg of preparations and will move to their base camp in Oujda on Thursday, 3 July 2025.
This is the first time Banyana Banyana return to the North African country since they were crowned continental champions in July 2022.
“It’s a new place where we arrived at, but it’s still Morocco. It’s very exciting to be here to finally get started. There is a big tournament coming up and we have to be ready for it, and we are looking forward to the upcoming days to continue with our preparations,” added Dr Ellis.
Banyana Banyana open the defence of their title against Ghana on Monday, 7 July, with Tanzania next on their radar (Friday, 11 July 2025). They will conclude their Group C matches with a fixture against Mali on Monday, 14 July.
Honneur Stadium in Oujda will host the group stage matches.
Dr Ellis announced a squad of 26 players on Monday and will name the final 21 closer to the start of the top women’s football continental championship.
Jermaine Seoposenwe and Kgaelebane Mohlakoana will join the Senior Women’s National team in Morocco from their respective clubs.
