Cape Verde's Double Celebration Sparks Coaching Turmoil for South Africa at Wafcon
The African Women's Football landscape has been shaken by two new participants joining the fray next March, as Malawi and Cape Verde secured their maiden spots in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. For Cape Verde, this milestone is a double celebration - with their men's team having qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
In just seven years since its formation in 2018, the women's team has experienced an unprecedented rise to prominence, defying expectations with their rapid progress from fledgling squad to major tournament contenders. This remarkable story echoes the path of Malawi, which boasts a similarly impressive track record, having gone from being one of the continent's underdog teams to becoming a force to be reckoned with.
South Africa, however, faces an uncertain future ahead of the Wafcon. The team is still reeling from a coaching change, as Desiree Ellis was out of contract and working on a month-to-month basis before being offered a four-year deal earlier this month - a development that has left her status in limbo. Her assistant, Thinasonke Mbuli, has taken charge but fears the squad may not be adequately prepared for the upcoming tournament due to the lack of pre-season training.
Mbuli acknowledges the critical need for the team to prepare effectively and believes that South Africa's players should actively seek deals abroad to improve their skills. She cites Malawi's success in exporting its top talent as a prime example, highlighting how having players like sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga competing at the highest level has elevated the nation's football profile.
As the Wafcon approaches, South Africa will be facing stiff competition from other established teams, including hosts Morocco, 10-time champions Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Tanzania, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, and two-time champion South Africa. The stage is set for a thrilling tournament that promises to showcase the skills of talented African players on the world stage.
The 2026 Wafcon serves as qualification for the 2027 World Cup, with all four semi-finalists securing a spot in Brazil. With the stakes high and the competition fierce, South Africa must navigate their coaching uncertainty while also addressing the need for a professional domestic league to develop its players and compete on equal footing with other top teams.
The future of African women's football hangs in the balance, as Cape Verde, Malawi, and South Africa join forces to make a mark at this pivotal tournament. Can they overcome their respective challenges and emerge victorious? Only time will tell.
The African Women's Football landscape has been shaken by two new participants joining the fray next March, as Malawi and Cape Verde secured their maiden spots in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. For Cape Verde, this milestone is a double celebration - with their men's team having qualified for the World Cup for the first time.
In just seven years since its formation in 2018, the women's team has experienced an unprecedented rise to prominence, defying expectations with their rapid progress from fledgling squad to major tournament contenders. This remarkable story echoes the path of Malawi, which boasts a similarly impressive track record, having gone from being one of the continent's underdog teams to becoming a force to be reckoned with.
South Africa, however, faces an uncertain future ahead of the Wafcon. The team is still reeling from a coaching change, as Desiree Ellis was out of contract and working on a month-to-month basis before being offered a four-year deal earlier this month - a development that has left her status in limbo. Her assistant, Thinasonke Mbuli, has taken charge but fears the squad may not be adequately prepared for the upcoming tournament due to the lack of pre-season training.
Mbuli acknowledges the critical need for the team to prepare effectively and believes that South Africa's players should actively seek deals abroad to improve their skills. She cites Malawi's success in exporting its top talent as a prime example, highlighting how having players like sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga competing at the highest level has elevated the nation's football profile.
As the Wafcon approaches, South Africa will be facing stiff competition from other established teams, including hosts Morocco, 10-time champions Nigeria, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Tanzania, Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, and two-time champion South Africa. The stage is set for a thrilling tournament that promises to showcase the skills of talented African players on the world stage.
The 2026 Wafcon serves as qualification for the 2027 World Cup, with all four semi-finalists securing a spot in Brazil. With the stakes high and the competition fierce, South Africa must navigate their coaching uncertainty while also addressing the need for a professional domestic league to develop its players and compete on equal footing with other top teams.
The future of African women's football hangs in the balance, as Cape Verde, Malawi, and South Africa join forces to make a mark at this pivotal tournament. Can they overcome their respective challenges and emerge victorious? Only time will tell.
! Cape Verde is on fire 
right now!!! I mean, going from nothin' to qualifyin' for the World Cup in just 7 yrs is straight up insane 
& doin' it with their women's team is even more incredible 
. And Malawi? they're like the ultimate underdog story 
- who's gonna lead the squad on that? Thinasonke Mbuli might have some good points about sendin' players abroad to get better skills 
. One thing's for sure tho: this tournament is gonna be 
. Their win rate is insane, and their squad composition is super balanced 
.
. With Desiree Ellis leaving and Thinasonke Mbuli taking over, it's like they're trying to put out fires left and right 
That's the move right there! It's like Malawi did with those sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga - taking their talent to the next level 
We'll have to wait and see, but one thing's for sure - this tournament is gonna be EPIC 
.
Source: BBC Sport, ESPN, African Soccer
they're like going from zero to hero in just 7 years it's crazy to see malawi's journey as well, but south africa's gotta get their act together ASAP 
desirée ellis was a big loss and thinasonke mbuli needs to step up the game 
coaches need to prioritize pre-season training for these tournaments and not just rely on abroad deals 
. Malawi's got a great track record, let's see what they can do in this new era 
.
i mean, cape verde and malawi are like the underdog stories of african women's football - who would've thought those countries would make it to the biggest tournament in africa?! but south africa is like the wild card right now... that coaching change has everyone on edge. desiree ellis just signed a new deal and all of a sudden her status is uncertain? it's like, what's good with that?! 
thinasonke mbuli wants players to go abroad for training but it's hard to see south africa competing with those big teams without a solid domestic league. fingers crossed cape verde and malawi can make a statement at the tournament!
You're telling me that Desiree Ellis was on a month-to-month deal? Like, what's the point of even having a contract if it's just gonna be a placeholder? And now she's got a four-year deal and the team is still unsure about her status? It's like, get some stability, ya know? 
- it's crazy how far they've come in just 7 years. Their men's team qualifying for the World Cup for the first time is a big deal. Malawi's story is similar, but I think Cape Verde's got some real momentum going on right now. South Africa needs to get their house in order though 
Desiree Ellis was let go after just getting a new deal, and now her assistant is trying to fix the team with minimal pre-season training? That's like throwing your squad into a tournament without really preparing them 
. but now, with cape verde and malawi joining the fray, it's like the whole continent is on fire 
. south africa just needs to get its coaching house in order and focus on developing a stronger domestic league