There’s no fear. No nerves. Just focus. When Banyana Banyana step onto the pitch in Oujda on Monday evening, they’ll do so not as hopefuls, but as champions. The defending queens of African football begin their WAFCON 2024 campaign with clarity, conviction and a mission: to prove that what happened in Morocco three years ago wasn’t the peak—it was only the beginning.They’re not here to survive the group. They’re here to own it. Ghana may be the first hurdle, but this South African team isn’t built to stumble. They’re built to command, to control, and to conquer.

The crown is theirs—now they must defend it.

Coach Desiree Ellis’s team arrived in Morocco after a steady build-up of preparation and results. Having qualified with a disciplined 2–0 aggregate win over Burkina Faso earlier this year, Banyana have sharpened their edge through a successful Three Nations Series featuring wins over Zambia, Lesotho, and Botswana. The camp is focused, the squad fit, and the spirit unbreakable.

South Africa’s record in WAFCON openers is formidable. The team has remained unbeaten in its last three opening matches, including landmark wins over Nigeria in 2018 and 2022. This habit of strong starts underlines their intent to take control early and set the tone for the rest of the tournament.Leading the line will be Hildah Magaia, the heroine of the 2022 final whose sharp finishing earned South Africa their first-ever continental crown. Despite recent injury concerns, Magaia is fully fit and ready to spearhead the attack alongside Jermaine Seoposenwe, whose late call-up to the squad adds a welcomed injection of pace and clever movement.

Behind them, Refiloe Jane and Amogelang Motau provide midfield steel and creativity—Jane’s precise distribution keeps the engine running, while Motau’s drive breaks defensive lines.

At the back, the defensive partnership of Bambanani Mbane and Nonhlanhla Mthandi remains the cornerstone of solidity. Their blend of tactical awareness and physical dominance, supported by the calm and commanding presence of goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, gives Banyana the confidence to control the defensive third and launch quick counters.

Tactically, Ellis’s side is expected to operate in a 4-3-3 formation when in possession, shifting into a compact 4-1-4-1 block to press and control space off the ball. The team’s pressing is calculated—waiting for the right moments to pounce and regain possession high up the pitch. Set pieces have been a focus in training, with South Africa looking to capitalise on well-rehearsed routines and aerial prowess.Ghana’s Black Queens, under coach Nora Häuptle, are a team with a different but no less dangerous approach.

Having missed the last edition of WAFCON, Ghana returns with hunger and physicality. Their squad features a strong core of domestic league players mixed with a few based abroad, relying on compact defensive organisation and quick counter-attacks to unsettle opponents.

Banyana will need patience to break down Ghana’s low block and discipline to handle fast breaks. Ghana’s key threats include midfield dynamo Evelyn Badu and experienced forwards like Portia Boakye, who will look to exploit any gaps left behind South Africa’s attacking fullbacks.

Beyond tactics and players, this opening match carries immense symbolic weight. For Desiree Ellis, this is her fourth WAFCON as head coach—a record for any woman coach in Africa. Her journey with Banyana has been transformational, taking the team from hopefuls to champions and global qualifiers. But Ellis remains focused on the present, emphasising that each game must be earned.

The message from camp is clear: every second counts, every pass matters, and every tackle can define the title defence. Monday is about starting strong, controlling the game, and sending a message to the continent that the crown belongs to South Africa—for now and beyond.

Kick-off is at 18:00 South African time at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda. The journey begins here. Banyana Banyana have the talent, the mindset, and the mission. It’s time to defend the throne.