Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane is leading South Africa’s senior women’s national team in their determined quest to defend the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco. The reigning champions begin their title defence in Group C, opening against Ghana on 7 July 2025 at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, which will serve as their group stage base[1]. Jane, who captained the side to its first continental crown in 2022, has stressed that the mission remains unchanged regardless of changes in team personnel, stating: “Whether it’s different players, old or new, the motivation is still the same. It’s very difficult to win it, but it’s even more difficult to retain, and that’s the mission of this team”[1].
Jane has also highlighted her team’s unwavering focus, even in the absence of star forward Thembi Kgatlana, reiterating that the objective is to retain their title and reinforce their status as a dominant force in African women’s football[2]. In recent tournament action, Jane made headlines with a spectacular goal, earning the “Matchday 3 Goal of the Day” during the 2024 WAFCON group stages, further demonstrating her leadership and on-field prowess[4].