Banyana Banyana have qualified for the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a hard-fought 1–0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
The decisive goal came in the first minute of stoppage time, when Thembi Kgatlana fired home a low shot that sent the crowd into celebration.
The result gave South Africa a 2–1 win on aggregate, following a 1–1 draw in the first leg in Kinshasa last week.
The victory ensures Banyana Banyana’s place at next year’s continental showpiece and comes just weeks after Bafana Bafana qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on merit for the first time since 2002.
According to Business Report, Banyana captain Refiloe Jane had earlier urged her teammates to remain focused ahead of the second-leg clash, stressing the importance of using home advantage.
“We still need to stay focused; we still need to push and try to get a good result and hopefully qualify for the WAFCON. The only approach is to win the game; there’s no other way,” Jane said .
The match began with Banyana Banyana dominating possession and pressing forward early. Kgatlana came close to scoring in the 28th minute, forcing a save from the Congolese goalkeeper after breaking through the defence.
Despite their control, the home side struggled to find the net until Kgatlana’s late winner sealed the result in dramatic fashion.
The game was played in front of a packed home crowd, with supporters waving flags and singing throughout the tense 90 minutes. For many fans, the victory was a relief after a challenging qualifying campaign marked by injuries and travel disruptions.
Banyana Banyana’s qualification maintains their consistent record at the WAFCON tournament, where they are the defending champions after winning their first title in 2022.
The 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted in Morocco, with matches expected to kick off in June 2026.
The tournament will also serve as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, giving Banyana Banyana another chance to represent South Africa on the global stage.
