Banyana Banyana have bagged three nominations at the upcoming 2026 CAF Awards, scheduled for next month, on 7 December 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) released a shortlist of nominees across various categories on its social media platforms on Tuesday.
Banyana Banyana have been named in the CAF National Team of the Year (Women) category and will compete against the likes of Malawi, Ghana, Nigeria, Morocco and Cameroon, among others.
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CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR NOMINEES:
South Africa
Algeria
Cabo Verde
Cameroon
Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana
Malawi
Mali
Morocco
Nigeria
Banyana Banyana goalkeeper Kaylin Swart will contest the Goalkeeper of the Year award, and will be going up against, among others, Algeria’s Chloe N’Gazi, Mercy Sikelo of Malawi as well as Zambia’s Hazel Nali.
CAF Goalkeeper of the Year Nominees:
Kaylin Swart – South Africa
Chloe N’Gazi – Algeria
Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
Cynthia Konlan – Ghana
Mercy Sikelo – Malawi
Fatoumata Karantao – Mali
Khadija Er-Rmichi – Morocco
Christiana Uzoma – Nigeria
Adji Ndiaye – Senegal
Hazel Nali – Zambia
The nominees for three further categories — Women’s Interclub Player of the Year, Women’s Coach of the Year and Women’s Club of the Year — will be determined following the conclusion of the CAF Women’s Champions League Egypt 2026.
Mexican-based forward Thembi Kgatlana received a big nomination as she is nominated for CAF Player of the Season, an award she won back in 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.
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This is perhaps one of the most difficult categories to pick a winner, with the Chawinga sisters from Malawi, Tabitha and Temwa, as well as Babra Banda of Zambia, Ghana’s Portia Boakye and Marie Ngah Manga of Cameroon, among others.
CAF Player of the Year Nominees:
Thembi Kgatlana – South Africa
Marine Dafeur – Algeria
Marie Ngah Manga – Cameroon
Michaely Bihina – Cameroon
Monique Ngock – Cameroon
Portia Boakye – Ghana
Tabitha Chawinga – Malawi
Temwa Chawinga – Malawi
Hanane Aït El Haj – Morocco
Barbra Banda – Zambia
Banyana Banyana will first have to deal with the FIFA Women’s World Cup Play-offs that will be held from 28 November to 6 December in Rabat, Morocco.
Dr Desiree Ellis’ charges are among the six nations featuring at the mini-tournament and South Africa will take on Chinese Taipei, Ecuador and Uzbekistan.
The top two countries at the Playoffs will advance to the final phase in February 2027, with only three qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil