South Africa’s Ramalepe rejects ‘lack of hunger’ claims after Wafcon exit

Lebogang Ramalepe has rejected suggestions that South Africa’s players have lost their motivation after Banyana Banyana’s disappointing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign ended with a quarter-final defeat by Morocco.

The hosts won 2-1 at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium on Saturday, securing their place in the semi-finals and qualifying for the World Cup in the process.

South Africa’s route to next year’s global tournament in Brazil is now more difficult. Banyana Banyana must beat either Malawi or Ghana in a play-off for one of CAF’s two intercontinental places. That match will take place in Casablanca on Thursday.

Ramalepe, one of the longest-serving members of the squad, said the team’s decline should not be attributed to a lack of ambition. Instead, the 34-year-old believes the standard of women’s football across Africa has improved significantly.

“It’s not like we are not hungry. Football has changed; a lot of teams have improved. I think there are a lot of teams that are matching our level, and others have surpassed us,” Ramalepe said.

The result in Morocco brought further criticism of a South Africa squad that includes many of the players who have already achieved historic milestones.

Sixteen of the 26 players selected for this year’s tournament were part of the side that won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco in 2022 for the first time. Most of that group also featured when South Africa reached the knockout stages of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, another first for the team.

Those achievements have led to questions over whether the squad needs to be reshaped if Banyana Banyana are to return to their previous level of success. However, Ramalepe insists the players remain determined to extend their campaign and reach the World Cup.

“What is required now is mental toughness. Not all is lost; we still have a chance, so we believe we can still go to the World Cup.”

South Africa’s performances in the group stage had already raised concerns before the quarter-final against Morocco. They won only one of their three matches, beginning with a 2-1 defeat by Tanzania, who were regarded as minnows.

Banyana Banyana then drew 2-2 with Ivory Coast before securing a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in their final pool match. That result was enough to take them into the knockout phase, but their tournament ended against Morocco.

The defeat means South Africa must now recover quickly for Thursday’s decisive play-off in Casablanca. Victory against either Malawi or Ghana would keep alive their hopes of appearing at next year’s World Cup.

The comments were reported by Sowetan.