Lebohang Ramalepe has called on her South African national team peers to display strong mental resolve during their upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria’s Super Falcons. The team, managed by Desire Ellis, fell into this position after an unfortunate 2-1 loss to Morocco during the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, which denied them an automatic tournament spot.
Nigeria also heads into this fixture following a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses. To maintain their path toward the inter-confederation playoffs, Banyana Banyana must now overcome their long-standing rivals. Ramalepe emphasized that the group must stay focused and determined to succeed. Speaking to ESPN, she insisted that the players need to define their own goals and refuse to succumb to a defeatist mindset, stressing that their World Cup aspirations remain alive.
