"Exciting to be here": Ellis on Banyana's arrival in Morocco & WAFCON readiness

South Africa. Photo credit: Banyana Banyana

After a marathon journey from Johannesburg, the reigning African champions, Banyana Banyana, have finally touched down in Morocco.

With the 2025 CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) fast approaching, head coach Desiree Ellis has shared her team's relief at their arrival and palpable excitement to begin their crucial final preparations.

Despite an arduous journey spanning over 24 hours from Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport, complete with flight delays and a layover in Ghana, the Banyana camp is abuzz with high spirits.

Banyana departed on Tuesday, June 24, arriving in Morocco the following day. They're now set to finalise their preparations for the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which runs from July 5-26, 2025.

Coach Ellis stated that the team is settling in well and eagerly anticipating the start of their title defence.

“It was a long and tiring trip, but we have arrived and settled in nicely, and we managed to have our first training session,” said Ellis.

Banyana Banyana are currently in Casablanca, undergoing the final phase of their preparations. They're set to move to their base camp in Oujda on Thursday, July 3. This marks their first return to the North African nation since their historic triumph as continental champions in July 2022

“It’s a new place where we arrived, but it’s still Morocco. It’s very exciting to be here to finally get started. There is a big tournament coming up, and we have to be ready for it, and we are looking forward to the upcoming days to continue with our preparations,” added Ellis.

Ellis’ troops will start their title defence in Group C with a clash against Ghana on Monday, 7 July. They will meet Tanzania on Friday, 11 July, and finally, Mali on Monday, 14 July.

The group stage games will be staged at Honneur Stadium in Oujda.