Banyana Banyana told to Bring WAFCON Trophy Home, Because No One Remembers Second Place

As the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) returns to Morocco, former Banyana Banyana coach Fran Hilton-Smith has laid it down plain and simple: win, or be forgotten.

The stakes are sky-high as South Africa’s senior women’s football team kicks off their title defence against Ghana in Rabat. And if anyone knows what it takes to lift African football to new heights, it’s Hilton-Smith – a pioneer in the women’s game both at home and across the continent.

“Coming second is just not enough,” she says. “Nobody remembers the runner-up. We’ve got to go there and prove we’re the champions.”

Pressure? What Pressure?

This year’s WAFCON is expected to be one of the most competitive yet. Morocco are back as hosts and hungry to finish the job they couldn’t in 2022, when Banyana stunned them in front of their home crowd. Nigeria, with nine titles to their name, are gunning for a tenth. But none of that rattles Hilton-Smith’s confidence.

She insists Banyana still have the firepower to go all the way – even without seasoned stars like Janine van Wyk, Noko Matlou, and the ever-electric Thembi Kgatlana, who’s absent due to personal reasons.

“Yes, we’ve lost some icons,” Hilton-Smith admits. “But we’ve brought in fresh faces. The backbone of that winning squad is still there, and they’ve been through the highest-pressure moments before.”

Ghana First, Then the Grind Begins

Banyana’s WAFCON journey begins with Ghana – a team known for its pace, power and unpredictability. But the timing couldn’t be better. The South Africans arrive on the back of a confidence-boosting win over Zambia in a recent tri-nation series. That victory, Hilton-Smith says, proved this team can still handle the heat.

“That Zambia result was massive. They came full strength, with their stars from top European leagues – and we beat them. Now let’s carry that energy into WAFCON,” she says.

The first match, she stresses, is critical. “We’ve got to stamp our authority early. The other teams have improved. They’ve got overseas-based players and top foreign coaches now. But so do we. If we want to repeat 2022, we need to show it from the very first whistle.”

Eyes On the Prize, Not On the Pressure

It’s been three years since Banyana lifted the WAFCON trophy for the first time in the nation’s history. That win sparked scenes of national joy, with the players celebrated from Soweto to Stellenbosch. But in sport, memory is short.

Hilton-Smith knows that defending a title is sometimes harder than winning it the first time. “We handled the pressure in 2022 – remember, we beat the hosts in front of a packed stadium. That takes guts. And many of those players are back again. They know what’s at stake.”

Group-stage clashes against Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia stand between Banyana and the knockouts. Only the top two teams advance, and with the continent watching, there’s no room for error.

A Nation Holds Its breath and Its Hope

Across social media, South Africans have already started rallying behind the team. On X , fans are sharing memories of that iconic 2022 final and calling for another fairytale ending. “Let’s do it for Thembi,” wrote one fan. “For Janine. For every little girl watching from a dusty pitch somewhere in the country.”

Hilton-Smith couldn’t agree more. “We’ve got a shot. It won’t be easy, but we’re going back with a mission. And that mission is to win.”

Because in African football, as in life, second place just isn’t enough.

Source: IOL

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