SAFA says Banyana Banyana WAFCON title defence on track after unpaid salaries boycott
The association said the matter had been resolved and the players were back in training.
Banyana Banyana to face Zambia on Tuesday for their final Tri-Nations Series, following a 3-2 win against Botswana. Picture: @Banyana_Banyana/X.
JOHANNESBURG – Banyana Banyana staged a stay-in and refused to train a couple of days after touching down in Morocco over unpaid match fees from the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The brief stand-off comes from unpaid match fees by SAFA after the team played preparation friendlies ahead of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defence, scheduled to be staged in Morocco from 5 to 26 July 2025.
SAFA said the matter had been resolved and the players were back in training.
In a statement, the association said the African champions had resumed their preparations for the defence of their continental title after the impasse over monies owed to them was resolved on Saturday.
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“The Association has made a commitment towards it and making sure that players continue with their preparations as we want them to perform very well in the tournament,” said SAFA Vice-President Linda Zwane.
The women’s national team players were demanding immediate payment of outstanding salaries for their April and June camps, which were part of WAFCON preparations.
“We had a discussion with the captain of the team and the HOD [Head of Department], and we were able to then agree and sent the necessary commitment. I think thus far, the reports we’re getting are that the team is back at training and they played a friendly game they wanted to play as part of the preparation,” said Zwane.
Banyana Banyana are in Group C alongside Mali, Ghana, Mali, and Tanzania.