Banyana Banyana are eyeing a spot in the 2027 FIFA World Cup

The South African women’s national football team is looking to participate in their third FIFA World Cup, after appearances in the 2019 and 2023 editions.

Speaking to SABC Sport, Dlamini adds that the approach for the 2026 WAFCON is different, as it comes with higher stakes.

“The mindset is completely different, we have a clear understanding and there's more at stake. It’s an important Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as it doubles up as a World Cup qualifier and having been to two World Cups before, we want to grab one of those spots,” said Dlamini.

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South Africa have been drawn in Group B against Tanzania and physical sides such as Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast for the 2026 WAFCON edition taking place from 17 March in Morocco. 

Dlamini believes preparation will be key to help surpass the group stages.

“This is a new WAFCON with different challenges and we have to plan and prepare really well for the group stages. That is how we can manage to go past these three teams,” added Dlamini.

In last year’s WAFCON edition Banyana Banyana were knocked out in the semi-finals, and Dlamini shares what she believes was the main reason they failed to defend the continental championship.

“It was a very emotional moment for all of us because up until that moment we were probably in control. Yes, Nigeria started better than us and had a few very good chances early. We then had a couple of half chances and then there were the two penalties on either side.

“We then got a very good chance that was saved on the line but the turning point came when Gabriela Salgado picked up that horrific injury and that affected us emotionally more than we could have imagined and that was the biggest turning point. Maybe if the game had gone into extra time we would have had time to recover.”