Dlamini banking on form and experience as Banyana Banyana chase another continental title

Banyana Banyana are upbeat as they put final touches to their TotalEnergies CAF Women Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 preparations. Desiree Ellis’ team will face Tanzania in their opening match on 27 July.

The 2022 African champions are gunning for their second continental title. The team has moved away from the disappointing campaign of 2024, where they finished fourth, and still came back with the CAF Fair Play award. A 2-1 loss to their bitter rivals Nigeria means South Africa could not defend their title.

There is a lot of experience in the team, with goalkeeper Andile Dlamini one of the calm heads in Ellis’ team. The Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies goalkeeper has featured in the last three TotalEnergies CAF Women Africa Cup of Nations tournaments including 2022, where they finished as African champions. She also went to the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where South Africa made it to the knockout phase, losing to the Netherlands in the Round of 16.

At 33, Dlamini is looking to win another TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON titel, and also qualifying for another World Cup.

“Success for us will be making all South Africans happy, making ourselves happy, making the technical team happy, achieving everything that we have written down. Success is making sure that we qualify for the World Cup,” Dlamini said. 

Dlamini has been in top form for her club Sundowns, where she has not conceded in her last four matches. This augurs well for the star from Tembisa, a township outside of Johannesburg. She was in 2022 named Goalkeeper of the Tournament, and having been the best on the continent, she will be looking to replicate that form.

“Going into the tournament with four clean sheets means a lot. It has boosted my confidence. I did not do it alone. I did it with the team, my teammates. For me to keep clean sheets, it is not just making saves, but good communication. I am grateful that I have confidence. I am confidence in myself, my teammates and my teammates. We are positive going into this tournament, and there will be no room for negativity,” Dlamini said.

For now, it is the calm before the storm for Banyana, as coach Desiree Ellis has to submit the final squad that will represent South Africa.

Dlamini is confident that she will make the cut, and her focus is already on making the country proud.