Lebogang Ramalepe: Banyana Banyana must adapt to rising African competition

Banyana's disappointing Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign ended in the quarter-finals on Saturday after they suffered a 2-1 defeat to hosts Morocco at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

The result ended Banyana's hopes of defending the continental title they won in Morocco in 2022 and also denied them automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

However, South Africa still have an opportunity to reach next year's global tournament. They will face Nigeria in Casablanca on Thursday, with victory keeping their World Cup hopes alive through the intercontinental play-off route.

Ramalepe believes the disappointing campaign should not simply be attributed to a lack of hunger within the squad.

The experienced defender, who was part of the team that won the 2022 WAFCON title and reached the knockout stages of the 2023 World Cup, says the landscape of African women's football has changed significantly.

"It's not like we are not hungry. Football has changed; a lot of teams have improved," said the defender.

"I think there are a lot of teams that are matching our level, and others have surpassed us."

Banyana's campaign highlighted the growing competitiveness of the tournament. They began with a shock 2-1 defeat to Tanzania before drawing 2-2 against Ivory Coast.

Their only victory came in their final group match, when they defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 to scrape into the quarter-finals.

Morocco then ended their title defence, leaving South Africa with little time to reflect on their disappointment.

Ramalepe insists the squad must instead focus on the opportunity that remains.

"What is required now is mental toughness. Not all is lost; we still have a chance, so we believe we can still go to the World Cup," she said.

With the World Cup still within reach, Ramalepe believes Banyana must show resilience and adapt to an increasingly competitive African football landscape.