2025 WAFCON: Banyana Banyana focus on the present rather than the past

Banyana Banyana will begin their CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence this weekend with a clear message from within camp — the past will not play a part for them in Morocco.

The 2025 edition of the tournament officially kicks off on Saturday with the final set for 26 July. 

Banyana, who are based in Oujda, will face Ghana, Tanzania and Mali in Group C as they attempt to retain the crown they famously won three years ago.

“We are focused on ourselves and not stressed about other teams. We just need to make sure that we do on the field what we do when we train,” said forward Noxolo Cesane, who is expected to play a key role in Desiree Ellis’ squad during the campaign.

The team resumed training on Friday in Casablanca after a day off, before travelling to their base for the group stages.

Banyana are among 12 nations competing for the newly unveiled WAFCON trophy, which was presented on Wednesday in Rabat.

Cesane insists Banyana are not banking on the memories of 2022, where they defeated hosts Morocco to win their maiden continental title.

Instead, she believes the current group must earn the right to be champions again.

“Every day, every month and every season teams change, and it is going to be hard. But we have to fix ourselves instead of looking at other teams, and we have to work hard to achieve what we want,” she said.

“So far, we are doing well. We have frustrations here and there, like mistakes on the field, and we have to fix those – it’s difficult but we are working hard.”

While defending their title will be the primary goal, Banyana will also be motivated by the significant increase in prize money announced by CAF. 

The winner of this year’s tournament will take home R17 million — almost double the amount that was up for grabs 2022.

That year, Banyana received R8.8 million for lifting the trophy. The 2025 runners-up will still receive the same prize as before, while the third-place team will pocket R6.1 million.

Fourth-place finishers will walk away with R5.2 million, and all quarter-finalists will each receive R3.5 million.

The financial rewards are part of CAF’s ongoing efforts to elevate women’s football across the continent, with the new trophy also symbolising a new era for the competition.

Banyana’s immediate focus, however, is Ghana. The two sides meet in a fixture that could go a long way in deciding who tops Group C and potentially earn a more favourable knockout round path.

For Ellis and her squad, the challenge now lies in balancing the expectations of being defending champions with the reality of needing to deliver again.

It’s been three years since Banyana conquered Africa. Now, it’s time to prove that wasn’t a once-off triumph.