SAFA CEO says WAFCON postponement has pros and cons

The continental football governing body moved the tournament from July this year – due to the Olympic Games in Paris – to July 2025.

Speaking exclusively to SABC Sport, Monyepao says while the delay will give coach Desiree Ellis time to start building a new team, it has on the other hand stopped the momentum the squad had gained over the last two years since winning the competition.

"There are positives to that and then there are negatives to that. The positives it's about giving coach Desiree more time to increase her pool of players and get them playing regularly with each other to build chemistry amongst the young players that are coming in and the older players that will be available for selection come 2025,” Monyepao said. 

“At the same time, it means you are losing all the momentum that you had building from the past two years after women the WAFCON in Morocco but I think it's a matter of us looking at the positives and also giving the team enough opposition for preparation so that they can play top quality nations in preparations of that and come Morocco 2025, they are ready to defend their title."

READ: Former Banyana Banyana captain uncertain about SA defending WAFCON title

Monyepao says the “long break” to July 2025 will give Desiree Ellis the opportunity to bring in young players as it appears that those who lifted the trophy in Morocco in 2022 will not be around come 2025.

"Firstly, it means that we have an extra year to enjoy being champions of Africa. So, we can celebrate that and build mileage around that, attract more sponsorship using that as a basis for us,” she added.

“After that, we mustn't forget that we need to bring in a new crop of players because some of the players that participated in the previous WAFCON would have retired come 2026.

“So, I think it's quite important that coach Desiree gives herself time to go out and recruit and scout for new players that can come in and build that base for Banyana in preparation for the AFCON that will be happening next year in Morocco."