Path to Brazil 2027: Banyana Banyana handed favourable WAFCON draw

Banyana Banyana, South Africa’s national women’s football team, enjoyed a promising group draw for the upcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals, in Morocco from March 17 to April 3.

The team will face Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, and Tanzania as they pursue a top-four finish that secures a coveted spot at the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

After a disappointing semi-final exit in the last edition, where they fell two matches short of defending their 2022 title, coach Desiree Ellis and her squad are returning with a sharpened focus and ambition. It could be their time to reclaim the championship and solidify their status as one of Africa’s top teams in women’s football.

The draw, held in Rabat on Thursday evening, places South Africa in Group B, competing at Al Madina Stadium — one of the key venues for the 2025 Cup of Nations finals. Those matches showcased an electric atmosphere that Banyana Banyana will hope to replicate as they take the pitch in pursuit of greatness.

South Africa is one of the top four seeds in the tournament, a testament to their consistent performance in women’s football. Their group-stage opponents, while notable, have a relatively limited pedigree.

The Ivory Coast has made three previous WAFCON appearances, with its last coming in 2014. Burkina Faso participated in only one tournament in 2022, while Tanzania has appeared in two tournaments, though they were present at the previous finals in Morocco in August 2025.

Banyana Banyana has a rich history in this tournament, having participated in all 14 previous editions and securing its place in the record books as one of only three nations to have ever won the WAFCON.

They join Nigeria, with its unparalleled ten titles, and Equatorial Guinea, which has claimed the honour twice. As they prepare for the 2026 edition, South Africa’s legacy in women’s football only strengthens their confidence.

To progress in the tournament, the top two teams from each of the four groups will move forward to the knockout rounds, where they will vie for World Cup qualification — a stage that guarantees thrilling encounters and a fierce push for excellence.

With South Africa having previously competed in the last two Women’s World Cups, the stakes couldn’t be higher as they look to continue their journey on the world stage.

WAFCON 2026 DRAW

Group A (Rabat Moulay Hassan Stadium): Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya,

Group B (Rabat Al Madina Stadium): South Africa, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Tanzania

Group C (Casablanca): Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi

Group D (Fes): Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde