Mapaballo Borotho

- Banyana Banyana returns home after finishing fourth at the 2024 WAFCON in Morocco.
- Deputy Sports Minister Peace Mabe will welcome the team at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday evening.
- Mabe praised the players’ courage and urged South Africans to celebrate their efforts despite the tournament exit.
The Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, will on Monday officially welcome Banyana Banyana at OR Tambo International Airport following their exit from the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
South Africa’s senior women’s national team bowed out after a hard-fought bronze medal playoff against Ghana, which ended 1–1 before the Black Queens triumphed in a penalty shootout.
The result saw Banyana finish fourth in the continental tournament.
Despite the disappointment, Mabe emphasised that the team’s performance remains a source of national pride.
Banyana Banyana may not be returning with medals this time, but they return with honour. These are women who stepped onto the pitch carrying the hopes of an entire nation. Their courage, tenacity, and unity in the face of immense pressure has reminded all South Africans of what it means to represent one’s country with pride.
She further urged South Africans to view the moment not as defeat, but as an opportunity to celebrate the strides the team has made for women’s sport.
Sport does not always follow the script we wish for, but what remains constant is how this team continues to elevate women’s sport and carry the dreams of millions of young girls across South Africa. They have nothing to be ashamed of — in fact, they have every reason to hold their heads high.
The arrival ceremony will take place at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday evening, with supporters encouraged to come out in their numbers to show appreciation for the team’s commitment and dedication.
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