The postponement of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been called a potential blessing for South Africa’s Banyana Banyana team amid reports of internal divisions. Sources allege tensions between coaches Desiree Ellis and Thinasonke Mbuli, including favouritism claims. The South African Football Association denies any discord.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) was postponed two weeks before its scheduled start in 2026, a move described as haphazard by observers. For Banyana Banyana, the 2022 African champions, this delay could provide crucial time to address reported internal problems. Insiders from the team’s pre-tournament camp told Daily Maverick of discord despite an outward appearance of unity during the Cosafa Women’s Championship, where the team lost the final to Namibia.
At the heart of the issues is a rift between head coach Desiree Ellis and assistant Thinasonke Mbuli, who also leads the University of the Western Cape in the Hollywoodbets Super League. Sources claimed the coaches have not aligned for some time, with Mbuli operating independently and excluding Ellis at times. They alleged favouritism towards UWC players, such as Sibulele Holweni, who participated in Cosafa despite fitness concerns that would typically exclude others.
One insider said: “The coaches have not seen eye to eye for a while now... Now it’s clear. You can see that Thina operates in her own way, with some other members of the technical team. They sometimes exclude Desiree.” Another noted: “There is also a clear case of favouritism and bias towards UWC players, from Thina.” Players reportedly fear speaking out due to repercussions, leading to selections based on associations rather than merit, which hampers performance.
The South African Football Association (Safa) strongly denied these claims. It stated that Ellis and Mbuli have collaborated for over a decade with mutual respect and no formal complaints. A recent National Identity Workshop reinforced unity, and player selections follow a transparent process with final decisions by the head coach based on merit, performance, and strategic needs, not club ties.
Sources predicted Safa’s denial, saying the federation lacks on-the-ground insight. They linked these tensions to striker Jermaine Seoposenwe’s 2025 departure from the team after a fourth-place Wafcon finish, citing factionalism and unequal effort among players. Safa affirmed confidence in the team’s leadership and unity as preparations continue for the rescheduled tournament starting 25 July 2026.
