25 September 2026 – Sasol Banyana Banyana Head Coach Dr Desiree Ellis has announced a squad of 24 players to face Madagascar in the back-to-back round two of the CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifiers in Bloemfontein next month.
Dr Ellis has kept the bulk of the squad that featured at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) in Morocco last month, with Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Asanda Hadebe, Nthabiseng Majiya, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Siyabulela Holweni and Lebogang Ramalepe not called up.
Bonolo Mokoma, Cimone Sauls and Sinegugu Zondi, who were omitted from the WAFCON squad, make a return, while Siyamthanda Qashani of the University of Pretoria is the only newcomer in the squad.
“It was important to maintain more or less a similar team because we don’t have another FIFA Calendar window to practice for the upcoming crucial World Cup play-offs in November. We want to use these two games against Madagascar to fine-tune what we need to do when we head off to the playoffs, and this makes the two fixtures all the more important. We will use a two-pronged approach – to progress in the Olympic qualifiers but also to ready ourselves for the big challenge in November,” said Dr Ellis.
“We have been given a lifeline and we will do everything we can to secure that ticket to Brazil, and these matches will help in that regard as they will also give us an opportunity to look at some of the other options, so we can make sure we have the right balance and mix going into the playoffs.”
The two clashes against Madagascar will be played in South Africa at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein since the Islanders do not have CAF-approved fields for their home match. The first leg will be played on Friday, 9 September 2026 while the second will take place four days later (Tuesday, 13 September). Both fixtures will kick off at 18h00. Sasol Banyana Banyana are in Round 2 of the Olympic qualifiers after getting a bye in the opening round.
This competition will be played over five rounds, with the third set for February/March next year, pitting together the remaining 16 nations. Round four will take place in October 2027, and the final phase in November of the same year.
Only two teams will represent the African continent at the 2028 Olympic Games in the USA scheduled to run from 11–29 July in Los Angeles, USA.
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