Banyana Banyana’s formidable trio and coach headline the Best WAFCON XI ahead of the quarter-finals

Banyana Banyana’s formidable trio of captain Refiloe Jane, Bambanani Mbane and Fikile Magama are headlining the Best WAFCON XI following an exhilarating group stage of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, currently underway in Morocco.

The Technical Study Group (TSG), which is overseeing the tournament at WAFCON, unveiled the Best XI on Wednesday night. Set in a classic 4-3-3 formation, this selection highlights the standout performers from an opening round that thrilled fans with a remarkable 45 goals across 18 matches.

Jane, deployed on the right midfield, exemplified calmness under pressure, skillfully orchestrating her team’s play with astute distribution. Her crucial involvement helped the Banyana Banyana dominate their group, finishing at the top with a stunning seven goals while conceding only once.

Joining Jane are defenders Bambanani Mbane and Fikile Magama, both of whom played an integral role in the team’s defensive solidity. Mbane, a commanding presence in the backline, not only provided leadership but also showcased strong ball distribution skills. Magama, known for her relentless energy on the flanks, bolstered South Africa’s attacking strategy while also delivering a goal in the opening match against Ghana.

In recognition of her outstanding coaching performance, South Africa’s head coach, Desiree Ellis, has been named the 'Best Coach of the Group Stage'.

Demonstrating her exceptional tactical acumen, Ellis led her team to an unbeaten record in the group phase, which included an impressive 4-0 victory over Mali. Her ability to instil a strong collective spirit and tactical balance continues to earn accolades from the technical panel.

In addition to the Banyana Banyana trio, Senegal’s flag is also raised in the Best XI through Nguenar Ndiaye, one of the tournament's joint top goal scorers.

From Zambia, the attacking duo of Rachel Kundananji and Barbara Banda, alongside defender Lushomo Mweeba, also made the team after demonstrating their prowess in Group A.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are represented by Ashleigh Plumtre and midfielder captain Rasheedat Ajibade, showcasing the depth of talent in the WAFCON tournament. Conclusively, Moroccan captain and joint top scorer Ghizlane Chebbak, along with Algerian goalkeeper Chloe N’gazi, completed the illustrious line-up of the group stage’s best players.

Banyana, set to face Senegal in the quarter-finals, are promising yet another thrilling chapter in this year’s WAFCON as they continue their quest for a successful title defence.

Another Banyana player who is expected to come to life in the knockout stages is Gabriel Salgado, who missed out in the last tournament through injury.

"Everything came together for us at the right time as we are going into the quarters. The team has started gelling well together. We are understanding each other a lot more. Going into the next game we know what's at stake and what is expected from. We're just going to work together and give our best perfomance," said Salgado on SafaTV.

"Every team is coming out to beat us as we are defending champions, so it is not going to be easy. We are going to need each other. 

"We've managed to watch a few video clips of Senegal and watch individuals by positions. It is a very crucial win we need to advance to the next step."