Banyana assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli on WAFCON qualification: 'We had to fight'

Chante Ho Hip

Chante Ho Hip

30 October 2025 | 6:58

Mbuli said that all the focus was on WAFCON, despite the challenge of the Hollywood Bets League kicking off in the same month.

Banyana assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli on WAFCON qualification: 'We had to fight'

Banyana Banyana to face Zambia on Tuesday for their final Tri-Nations Series, following a 3-2 win against Botswana. Picture: @Banyana_Banyana/X.

Banyana Banyana booked their spot in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations this week.

The 2022 African champions secured a 1-0 win in the second leg of their qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli said the team needed to see every opportunity through after drawing 1-1 away in the first leg. 

"Obviously, the plan was to go to Congo and make sure that we got the result. We had opportunities to finish the game in the first half away, but we couldn’t."

She added that many were quick to underestimate the DRC, but that African football has improved.

"We knew that coming home with that one goal, we still had to fight."

"Going to WAFCON, we are going for two things: the WAFCON trophy and to qualify for the FIFA World Cup," she said. 

To listen to Mbuli in conversation with 947’s Robert Marawa, use the audio player below:

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