South Africa women's national soccer team

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, officially known as Sasol Banyana Banyana for sponsorship reasons).

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.

History 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

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.

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.

Olympic Games They qualified for Olympic football for the first time in 2012, with coach Joseph Mkhonza. 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.

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. Following the team's performance, Desiree Ellis would win the 2023 award for CAF Women's Coach of the Year.

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.

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.

Team image Nicknames The South Africa women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as "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.

Naming rights The team is currently branded as "Sasol Banyana Banyana", based on a multi-year financial investment in the team by Sasol.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

2025

2026

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

Coach Name Ref. Head coach Desiree Ellis Assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli Goalkeeper Coach Cameron Cox Performance Analyst Shilene Booysen Physical Trainer Ridhaa Allie Kit Manager Evah Mokwape General Manager Lauren Duncan

Manager history

+ All-time Banyana Banyana coaching records Coach Tenure Reference Sandile Bali Nomalungelo Mooi Fran Hilton-Smith Greg Mashilo – August Makalakalane – Joseph Mkhonza – Vera Pauw – Desiree Ellis – present

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 WAFCON matches from 26 July through 16 August 2026. 

Caps and goals correct as of 4 August 2026, after the match against Burkino Faso. South Africa Squad

Recent call ups

The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

Notes = Alternate = Withdrew due to injury = Withdrew due to medical reasons = Preliminary squad / standby = Retired from the national team

Previous squads Turkish Women's Cup 2023 Turkish Women's Cup squads

Records

Players in bold are still active with the national team.

Most appearances RankPlayerCareer CapsGoals1Janine van Wyk2005–2023185122Noko Matlou2007–2025174663Refiloe Jane2012–present153174Nompumelelo Nyandeni2002–2025150395Nothando Vilakazi2008–202213776Portia Modise2000–20151241017Lebogang Ramalepe2014–present12358Mamello Makhabane2005–2022121229Jermaine Seoposenwe2010–20251122510Bambanani Mbane2016–present1066

Top goalscorers RankPlayerCareerGoalsCapsAvg.1 Portia Modise2000–20151011242 Noko Matlou2007–2025661743 Nompumelelo Nyandeni2002–2025391504 Thembi Kgatlana2014–present35915 Linda Motlhalo2016–present25102 Jermaine Seoposenwe2010–2025251127 Hildah Magaia2018–present2450 Amanda Dlamini2007–2017241059 Leandra Smeda2010–201922100 Mamello Makhabane2005–2022121

Honours

TypeCompetitionTitlesSeasons ContinentalAfrica Women Cup of Nations1Champions (1): 2022 Runners-up (4): 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018 Third place(2): 2006, 2010African Games0Runners-up (2): 2003, 2007RegionalCOSAFA Women's Championship7Champions (7): 2002, 2006, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Runners-up (3): 2011, 2022, 2025

Shared record

Awards CAF National Team of the Year (Women): 2017, 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Fair play: 2014, 2022, 2024 African Union Sports Council Region: Team of the Year: 2019

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup recordYearResult*Squad 1991Did not enter 1995Did not qualify 1999 2003 2007 2011 2015 2019Group stage300318−7SquadRound of 16411268−2Squad 2027To be determined in 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (inter-confederation play-offs) To be determined 2035Total:2/9Round of 167115716−9 *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

FIFA Women's World Cup historyYearRoundDateOpponentResultStadium 2019Group stage8 JuneL 1–3Stade Océane, Le Havre13 JuneL 0–1Parc des Princes, Paris17 JuneL 0–4Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier 2023Group Stage 23 July L 1–2 Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington28 July D 2–2 Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin2 August W 3–2 Wellington Regional Stadium, WellingtonRound of 166 August L 0–2 Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

Olympic Games Summer Olympics recordYearResult*Squad 1996Did not qualify 2000 2004 2008 2012Group stage301217−6Squad 2016Group stage301203−3Squad 2020Did not qualify 2024Total2/76024110−9 *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Africa Women Cup of Nations Women's Africa Cup of Nations recordYearRound*Squad 1991Banned 1995Runners-up63121920−1 1998Group stage200227−5 2000Runners-up540193+6Squad 2002Fourth place5212611−5 2004Group stage300327−5 2006Third place521285+3 2008Runners-up530274+3 2010Third place5302106+4Squad 2012Runners-up5302660Squad 2014Fourth place511376+1Squad 2016511353+2Squad 2018Runners-up5320112+9Squad 2020Cancelled due to Covid 2022Champions6600103+7Squad 2024Fourth place623194+5Squad 2026Quarter-final5212770SquadTotal1 Title7335112711894+24 *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

African Games African Games recordYearResultMatchesWins DrawsLossesGFGA 2003Runners- up5401123 2007Runners- up421177 2011Fourth place5122810 20155th202011 20197th200204 2023Did not qualifyTotal5/6187562825

COSAFA Women's Championship COSAFA Women's Championship recordYearRound*Squad 2002Champions5500362+34 2006 Champions4400192+17 2008 Champions 2011 Runners-up5401143+11 2017 Champions5320123+9 2018 Champions5500132+11 2019Champions5500272+25 2020 Champions5500223+19Squad 2021 Fourth place 5 2 2 1 8 6 +2Squad 2022 Runners-up 5 3 1 1 9 2 +7Squad 2023Group stage320195+4Squad 2024Runners-up5320132+11Squad 2025Runners-up522174+3SquadTotalWinner 5743 8 6189 36 +153 *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

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

Against Confederation

Record per opponent *As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx. Key

The following table shows South Africa's all-time official international record per opponent: OpponentConfederation 1 0 0 1 0 5 (5) 0UEFA 3 0 1 2 3 7 (4) 0CONCACAF 4 1 0 3 2 11 (9) 0AFCTotal —

See also

Sport in South Africa Football in South Africa Women's football in South Africa 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

References

External links Official website FIFA profile