South Africa will defend their TotalEnergies Caf Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) crown in Morocco and begin their Group C campaign with a clash against Ghana on July 7. Catch all the action live on SuperSport.
There will be much expectation around the team, though they have lost several stalwart players since their triumph three years ago, including Janine van Wyk, Noko Matlou and Thembi Kgatlana.
Still, they have a team packed with experience and skill, as we select five players who will be crucial to their success in Morocco.
KAYLIN SWART
It is a bit of a lottery over who will start between Swart and Andile Dlamini, with both being very capable goalkeepers.
But Swart has tended to get the big assignments in the past, including the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, and that experience could mean she gets the nod again.
She is not the tallest and has battled with aerial balls, but her positioning is superb, and she is a very good shot-stopper.
Swart played for South Africa at the 2010 Fifa Under-17 Women’s World Cup and also had a successful time in college football in the United States, but currently plays for JvW in the domestic Women’s Super League.
REFILOE JANE
Captain Jane is the anchor in the midfield and a player with the vision to unlock any defence, but is coming off long-term injury that kept her sidelined for more than a year.
She was discovered at the Gauteng Future Championships competition in 2009 as a 16-year-old and quickly became a fixture in the national team.
She played for Mamelodi Sundowns before later moving to Australian side Canberra United, and then AC Milan in Italy, where she spent three seasons. She later signed for Italian side Sassuolo and now plays for TS Galaxy Queens.
Jane has loads of experience from playing at the Olympic Games and Fifa Women’s World Cup, and was also a key part of the Wafcon win in Morocco three years ago.
LINDA MOTLHALO
Motlhalo has all the silky skills to run any midfield and now has vast experience of playing overseas, adding great football intelligence to her game.
Former Banyana coach Vera Pauw said Motlhalo could become one of the leading players in the world given her ability, and while that has not happened yet, she still has plenty of growth left in her.
Motlhalo has already played in the best league in the world, the National Women’s Soccer League with Houston Dash and Racing Louisville, and also turned out for Beijing BG Phoenix in China and Swedish club Djurgardens.
She is in her second spell at Scottish side Glasgow City and has been a mainstay with Banyana since making her debut in 2017.
She certainly has goals in her game, but is also a creator for others and can be the difference in a tight contest.
JERMAINE SEOPOSENWE
The forward will be playing her final tournament for Banyana, having already announced she will retire from international football at the completion of the competition.
A vastly experienced forward, she will be central to Banyana’s chances in Morocco and a big source of goals.
The 31-year-old has been in the senior national team for 15 years and has over 100 caps, though there have been periods when she has not played.
Still, if you look back at some of the team's most important moments in that time, she was there.
Seoposenwe has played her club football in Lithuania, Spain, Portugal and now Mexico, and has pace and excellent finishing ability to go with her experience.
HILDAH MAGAIA
Magaia etched her name into Banyana history by scoring the two goals that took the side to the 2022 Wafcon title in their 2-1 success over hosts Morocco in the final.
She is arguably the best ‘finisher’ in the side and a real danger in and around the six-yard box.
Her skill has been honed after years of playing overseas in Sweden, South Korea, Mexico, and the United States, having made her international debut in 2018. In January this year she joined Mexican side Club Tijuana.
Magaia scored two goals in the 2023 Fifa World Cup against Sweden and Italy, proving once again that she is the player for the big occasion.