By Contributor Fadel Senna Neel Shelat
South Africa will attempt their first WAFCON title defense this year. (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via … More Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Just as South Africa did last time around, Ghana will be looking to end a long drought in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) this year. As it happens, the two teams have been drawn in the same group for the 15th edition of the tournament..
🇿🇦 South Africa
Current FIFA Ranking: #54
WAFCON History: 13 previous appearances; best result: Champions (2022)
After finishing as WAFCON runners-up as many as five times, South Africa finally ended their agonizing wait in 2022. So, they will begin their first title defense in Morocco.
Recent Results and Performances
Banyana Banyana failed to qualify for the last Olympics after narrowly losing to Nigeria, so their last major tournament was the 2023 World Cup in which they got to the knockouts for the very first time. They lost a few friendlies to opponents from other continents later last year, but have won all matches in 2025 having only faced African teams.
Star striker Thembi Kgatlana has not been named in South Africa’s WAFCON squad due to personal reasons, as per the South African Football Association. So, some others will have to step up and fill her void.
Forward Jermaine Seoposenwe – who also plays her club football in Mexico – will not be a like-for-like replacement certainly can produce the goods when it comes to goals and assists. Fresh off the back of a 12-goal season, she should be warmed up for a standout showing at the tournament.
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Expectations
Having finally broken their duck, South Africa might feel that some weight has been lifted off their back heading into this tournament. At the same time, their status as defending champions means that they will be expected to go all the way again.
Current FIFA Ranking: #66
WAFCON History: 12 previous appearances; best result: runners-up (1998, 2002 and 2006)
After South Africa’s triumph last time around, Ghana are the only participant of this edition of the WAFCON to have reached multiple finals without lifting the title. They failed to qualify in 2022 and have only reached the knockouts once since 2006, so their first priority must be to safely reach the latter stages.
Recent Results and Performances
Ghana lost to Zambia in Olympic qualifying due to a last-minute concession, but their performance across two legs certainly showed reasons to be optimistic. They have subsequently also gone toe-to-toe with Morocco in a friendly earlier this year, so they do look capable of competing with the best sides on the continent.
Swedish coach Kim Björkegren, who has experience in the Swedish, Chinese, Cypriot and American top flights, accepted his first national team job with the Black Queens at the start of this year. He will get a chance to show his tactical nous against some tough opposition in Morocco.
Grace Asantewaa has been a standout for Mexican side FC Juárez over the last couple of years in two very different roles. She operated as an all-round midfielder in 2023/24 before being pushed further up the field last season, where her excellent link-up play continued to shine. She has generally played in a deeper position for her national team, but her flexibility will surely prove quite valuable for Björkegren either way.
Expectations
Ghana look well-placed to make it to the knockouts at least, so that should be their minimum target. The rest of their journey will largely depend on the caliber of opposition they face, but they should aim to make life difficult for the favorites in the knockouts.
Current FIFA Ranking: #78
WAFCON History: 7 previous appearances; best result: semifinalists (2018)
At the seventh time of asking, Mali finally made it past the group stage at a WAFCON in 2018. They then failed to qualify for the 2022 edition of the tournament, so they will be hoping to mark their return with a bang in Group C.
Recent Results and Performances
Mali’s build up to the tournament has not entirely gone as they might have liked as they suffered consecutive losses to the significantly lower-ranked Sierra Leone and Liberia. They did put up a good fight against Morocco in a friendly last December, but have not faced any stronger teams since.
Aïssata Traoré is fresh off the back of her best-ever season in Europe as she scored nine goals and chipped in with four assists for French side FC Fleury in 2024/25. A versatile player who can play anything from a box-to-box role in midfield to any position in the front line, she should be the star figure in this Mali side.
Expectations
Mali have been drawn into quite a tough group so progression to the knockouts will not come easy for them, but they should aim to give it their best shot at least.
🇹🇿 Tanzania
Current FIFA Ranking: #137
WAFCON History: 1 previous appearance; group stage (2010)
15 years after they made their debut on the continental stage, Tanzania are back for their second WAFCON appearance. This could well be the beginning of a golden era for the team, as they have a very youthful yet quality-packed squad.
Recent Results and Performances
After losing to South Africa in Olympic qualifying in early 2024, Tanzania have only tasted defeat once more in a friendly against Morocco. They have been in particularly fine form this year, winning all but one match and lifting the 2025 CECAFA Championship (the regional tournament for East Africa) on home soil.
Head coach Bakari Shime has invested a lot of time and effort to take the team to this stage, not only as head coach in the last couple of years but also from his time in the youth setup previously. So, he looks to be the right person to lead this time on a potentially historic run.
The average age of the Tanzanian starting lineup will be well in the lower 20s, so they have a lot of youngsters worth following. Captain Opa Clement is only 24 years old, but her strike partner Clara Luvanga is four years her junior. She first starred in qualification for the 2022 Under-17 Women’s World Cup, in which she scored a whopping 10 goals to help seal a debut appearance for her nation. She will be keen to rediscover some of that form going into her first major international tournament at the senior level.
Expectations
Tanzania’s current FIFA ranking is not representative of their quality as they are a very strong emerging side. Given the amount of talent and quality in their squad, they should be aiming to make a serious statement by qualifying for the knockouts.
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