WAFCON will gauge Banyana Banyana future - Simphiwe Dludlu

The defending champions will be heading to Morocco having lost several senior figures that greatly aided in winning their 2022 title, including the likes of Janine van Wyk and Noko Matlou, who have both retired, while Thembi Kgatlana will be a notable absentee.

The latter has declared herself unavailable this year’s WAFCON title defence, while Jermaine Seoposenwe has also said she will retire after the tournament, and Dludlu believes younger players should raise their hands ahead of the 2027 Women's World Cup.

“Thembi is the biggest player that is not in the WAFCON squad, and with Jermaine announcing her retirement as well, it brings a bit of instability," said Dludlu.

"But we are grateful that she is still going to the WAFCON. This is a better time to try different players, younger players. Yes it is a title defence, but at least it’s not a World Cup qualifier. 

"So it gives more time for the coach to put together a formidable team to face that test, and the only way you can test if your squad is good enough or balanced enough is when they go to a major tournament and fight it out."

Ellis’ 28-player preliminary squad has assembled for their final camp in Johannesburg, with Dludlu expressing her faith in the current crop as well as the way forward.

"My observation, looking at the preliminary squad, it is a great balance of players. You can see that the coach has been going around in the Hollywoodbets Super League and everywhere shopping for players," she noted.

"We will see more balance as some of these players get more experience. You can see the direction of the team. One of the biggest tests was against Zambia.

"We need to try and be quicker at the back, to give us more confidence. I just hope the coach gets more friendlies before we go to the WAFCON to fine-tune the squad."

READ: Matlou’s advice to Banyana Banyana ahead of WAFCON