WAFCON 2024: Heartbreak for Banyana Banyana as South Africa lose superstar Kgatlana

Defending champions South Africa’s Banyana Banyana face a major setback ahead of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, as superstar striker and former African Player of the Year Thembi Kgatlana will miss the tournament due to personal reasons. 

Coach Desiree Ellis announced her final 23-woman squad on Monday, with Kgatlana’s absence leading to widespread reactions among fans. 

Banyana, drawn in Group C alongside Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania, will begin their title defence on July 7, 2025, without one of their most influential players.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) confirmed Kgatlana’s withdrawal, prompting an outpouring of emotions on Banyana Banyana’s official X account. 

Fans expressed disappointment and concern, with comments like, “Thembi Kgatlana?? What happened to our great Kgatlana?” and “You left out the most talented baller we’ve ever had for no plausible reason, you better defend that title mxm.” 

Others remained optimistic, noting, “Kgatlana will be missed, but the likes of Seoposenwe and Magaia got this.” 

The mixed sentiments highlight Kgatlana’s significance to the team and the challenge her absence poses for South Africa’s title defence.

Coach Desiree Ellis acknowledged Kgatlana’s stature, stating on SABC via Idiski Times, “There’s no two ways about it, she’s one of the top players in the country.” 

However, she downplayed the impact of her absence, pointing to the team’s resilience in past tournaments. 

“If you look at 2022, when it came to the later stages of the tournament [WAFCON], other players stepped up. Over the years, we went to Senegal, we had a different group,” Ellis said. 

With experienced players like Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia in the squad, Ellis believes Banyana can overcome the loss as they aim to retain their crown in Morocco from July 5-26, 2025.