Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies will once again have a commanding presence on the continental stage after 11 players were selected in Banyana Banyana’s squad for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which will be hosted in Morocco from 26 July to 16 August.
The Brazilians’ representatives are Andile Dlamini, Lebohang Ramalepe, Karabo Dhlamini, Asanda Hadebe, Bambanani Mbane, Khutso Pila, Noxolo Cesane, Nonhlanhla Mthandi, Isabella Ludwig, Ronnel Donnelly and Nthabiseng Majiya.
The national team call-ups come on the back of a sensational start to the Hollywoodbets Super League campaign. Sundowns Ladies have won all five of their league fixtures, scoring 21 goals without conceding a single goal.
Several members of the WAFCON squad have been instrumental in that remarkable run. Noxolo Cesane has enjoyed an outstanding start to the season with four goals, while Isabella Ludwig has scored three times.
Experienced campaigners Lebohang Ramalepe and Nonhlanhla Mthandi have each found the back of the net twice, with Karabo Dhlamini, Nthabiseng Majiya and Ronnel Donnelly also getting on the scoresheet.
Leading the contingent to Morocco is experienced goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who will once again provide leadership, composure and invaluable experience between the posts for Banyana Banyana as they compete on Africa’s biggest stage.
“It is always an honour to wear the national team jersey. It means a lot to me to give my utmost best every time I step onto the field. I am not only representing myself, but my family, my Club and the entire country. I am looking forward to excelling alongside my teammates, qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup and making South Africans proud.”
Midfielder Nonhlanhla Mthandi, who has carried her excellent domestic form into national team selection, believes the squad is determined to build on its recent successes and create more history for South African football.
“I am massively excited to be part of this squad because representing South Africa is something every player dreams about. We have prepared well and everyone understands the responsibility that comes with wearing this badge. Our focus is on doing well as a team, taking each game as it comes and ultimately winning the tournament. We know it will not be easy, but we believe in our quality and we want to make our supporters proud while taking another step towards World Cup qualification.”
Defender Karabo Dhlamini, who has once again been one of Sundowns Ladies’ standout performers this season, says the squad is motivated by the opportunity to represent the country and achieve something special together.
“It is always an honour to represent my country in tournaments like this and I am extremely excited and proud to be part of the team once again. Every player understands what is expected of us whenever we wear the South African jersey. We have one common objective, and that is to win every match we play. If we remain focused, work hard for one another and execute our game plan, we can achieve our goal of winning WAFCON and securing qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
One of the most heartwarming stories in the squad belongs to Ronnel Donnelly. After battling back from injury, the talented forward returned to action in style by scoring against TS Galaxy Queens before earning her place in the national team.
“If I am being honest, when I found out I had been selected, I became very emotional, but in a good way. This is the moment I have been working towards ever since my injury. There were difficult days during my recovery, so to now be here is incredibly rewarding. I feel honoured, grateful and extremely proud to represent my country at such a prestigious tournament. Every opportunity to wear the national jersey is special, and I want to make the most of it while contributing in any way I can.”
Banyana Banyana have been drawn in Group B and will open their WAFCON campaign against Tanzania in Casablanca on 27 July. They will then face Ivory Coast on 31 July before concluding their group-stage fixtures against Burkina Faso on 4 August.
We wish our Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies players a successful and inspiring tournament as they continue to represent the Club with pride on the Continental stage.
