Thembi Kgatlana's bombshell leaves Banyana Banyana's Wafcon hopes in jeopardy

Star striker Thembi Kgatlana has dropped a bombshell by declaring herself unavailable for Banyana Banyana, who will defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco next month.

This decision, attributed to personal reasons, has sent shockwaves through the South African football community and raised concerns about the team’s championship aspirations in the continent’s premier women’s tournament.

Kgatlana, whose presence has been pivotal for almost a decade in the national set-up, first made her mark as a teenager when she represented South Africa at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Her ascendancy accelerated in 2018 during the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in Ghana, where she was not only a standout performer but also took home the Player of the Tournament trophy while finishing as the top goal scorer, helping the team to a runners-up finish against eventual champions Nigeria.

Her international career includes numerous milestones, notably being the first South African to score a goal at the Fifa Women’s World Cup during the 2019 tournament in France. More recently, Kgatlana played a decisive role in Banyana Banyana’s historic journey at the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, scoring the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Italy — the team’s first-ever win at a World Cup, which secured their place in the knockout stage.

With an impressive tally of 31 goals in 82 appearances for the national side, Kgatlana stands out as one of South Africa’s most accomplished players. Her club form has also been exceptional; she scored 14 goals last season for Tigres UANL in Mexico, making her one of the most valuable players in Mexican women’s football.

It is difficult to fathom why Kgatlana has made herself unavailable. She has thrived on the biggest stages and once said: “Who doesn’t want to show up for big games?

"I love big games because they motivate me. It allows me to express myself.”

Despite her stellar achievements, Kgatlana’s sudden withdrawal raises eyebrows.

Traditionally, such decisions might stem from conflict with coaching staff or dissatisfaction with administrative issues — concerns which intensified when Banyana Banyana protested over remuneration and treatment by Safa ahead of their trip to the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Coach Desiree Ellis has announced a preliminary squad of 28 players, who will assemble in Johannesburg for an intensive training camp starting June 19.

From this group, 24 players will prepare for the tournament, with Kgatlana notably absent. Among other concerns is the fitness of Hildah Magaia — another key figure from the 2023 squad — who will join the team after completing medical assessments.

Banyana Banyana’s final 23-player squad will be announced on 23 June, ahead of the team’s departure for Oujda, Morocco, where they will be based during the group stage of the tournament.