Former Banyana Banyana star Khabo Zitha has taken time to dissect what she feels is hampering progress in the women’s national side after a difficult outing at the recent 2026 WAFCON tournament in Morocco.
South Africa missed out on an automatic ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after failing to reach the semi-finals. Starting their campaign with a shock 2-1 group defeat by Tanzania, Banyana were then held 2-2 by Ivory Coast, before wrapping up business in their pool with a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso.
Hosts Morocco then denied Banyana a semi-final spot after a 2-1 quarter-final defeat. However, South Africa still have passage to the global tournament via November’s intercontinental play-offs, a berth they secured after beating Nigeria 2-1 in a WAFCON play-off tie in what was a show of character by Desiree Ellis‘ girls.
They now face Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan, hoping to reach the final knockout phase of the qualifiers, their last chance to qualify for the World Cup. Having been crowned African champions in 2022, Banyana boasted of what was arguably their best crop of players.
It was the same group that helped them make history by reaching the World Cup knockout stage for the first time at the 2023 edition.
BANYANA COACH ELLIS ACCUSED OF RECYCLING PLAYERS
Of the squad coach Desiree Ellis took to Morocco, 15 players were part of the WAFCON-winning squad in 2022. The majority of those players were also at the 2023 World Cup, including Thembi Kgatlana, Kaylin Swart, Lebogang Ramalepe, Hildah Magaia, Linda Motlhalo and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini. Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, who had taken a break from the national team in 2023, had to be recalled for the 2026 WAFCON.
“We can’t keep the same players to go and compete in the same tournament without bringing in new young players who can match the pace because we saw at the just-ended WAFCON that it was not easy,” Zitha told FARPost.
“We saw new players who were coming through from different countries like the [Malawi’s Tabitha and Temwa] Chawinga sisters who were outstanding throughout the tournament, and we can talk about a lot of players at WAFCON.
“With us, we still brought the same faces mostly and expect them to give us the 100 percent they gave us in the previous years. It’s practically not possible; hence, I’m saying you can’t climb the same pyramid twice.”
BANYANA BANYANA RENEWAL EFFORTS NOT ENOUGH, ACCORDING TO ZITHA
However, at the July/August WAFCON, Ellis tried to refresh her squad by picking the likes of Isabella Ludwig, Ronell Donnelly, Nthabiseng Majiya and 18-year-old Zoe October as some of the upcoming stars. But Zitha feels that was not enough integration.
“I was happy with Ludwig and Donnelly. The introduction of them was not enough for us to see because we still kept the same players that won WAFCON [in 2022], and obviously it was going to derail us or put us on the back foot because the pace is no longer the same,” added Banyana Banyana great Zitha, who played alongside Ellis.
“The mental stability can be there, but the physicality of it needed fresh legs so that we can know what kind of players we have, who will be able to go to the World Cup and run and run. Not run, stop and recover.
“So, I also think that we didn’t do well during the tournament itself. The changing of the team, not completely, but slowly introducing the youngsters while the experienced players are still there to guide them. But we can’t keep the same team for three years. It’s not going to deliver for us no matter how much we think they can still give us what we want. Not that we should just remove the players from the national team.”
CALLS FOR MORE YOUNGSTERS IN BANYANA
Zitha feels Banyana is not keeping up with their continental rivals who are investing in young blood. It will be seen if Ellis will stick with her experienced players during the continental play-offs or if she will hand opportunities to upcoming stars.
“We know the resilience that they [Banyana’s experienced players] have shown before. It’s not there anymore; it’s the level because other countries are introducing the Under-21s,” she went on.
“We can’t compare a 33-year-old with a 19 or 21-year-old. We do have talent, and we need to give these youngsters opportunities, of course, with the guidance of the experienced players. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and throw them into the field of play.
“I think we kept the same team for too long, and we became dependent on them to deliver for us. It brought out a level of character that didn’t show from the players that we thought were the core of the team. Not that they are bad, but because of the level of the tournament, the muscle cannot carry you through each and every tournament.”
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