Ellis names Banyana squad for World Cup playoff in Morocco
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has announced her final 23 players for the playoff tournament in Morocco, where two of six teams will progress.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis has announced the 23 players who will travel to Morocco for the preliminary round of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup playoffs, according to iDiski Times.
How the Morocco tournament works
South Africa are part of a six-team field that will play from 28 November to 5 December. Uzbekistan, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Ecuador and Chinese Taipei are the other nations involved. In total, nine matches will be played.
Banyana begin on the opening day against Chinese Taipei. Their second fixture is against Ecuador three days later, and their campaign ends on 5 December.
Only two of the six teams will get through this stage. They will move on to the final qualification playoffs, which are scheduled for next February.
The final playoff round
The last phase also involves six sides: the two that advance from Morocco, plus one team from UEFA, one from CONMEBOL and two from CONCACAF. They will contest three single knockout matches, and the three winners will take the remaining places at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Why Banyana are in the playoffs
South Africa did not secure a direct African place at the finals. They failed to make the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and that left them having to go through the playoff route.
The team has played at two World Cups so far, in France in 2019 and in Australia and New Zealand in 2023. The report notes that they reached the second round.
The source article also points to two related stories: Banyana earned three nominations at the 2026 CAF Awards, and they slipped in the latest FIFA world rankings.
What supporters should know
The dates are the main thing to diarise:
- 28 November: Banyana open against Chinese Taipei
- Three days later: the match against Ecuador
- 5 December: the final preliminary-round match day
- February: the final qualification playoffs, for the two teams that advance
The names of the 23 players were not included in the text we worked from, so fans should check the official South African Football Association channels for the full squad list. If Banyana finish in the top two in Morocco, they will still have to win a knockout match in February to reach the finals in Brazil.
This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.
