The South African Football Association (SAFA) and the defending Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions, Banyana Banyana, resolved a wage dispute that had led to the team boycotting training sessions in Morocco ahead of the 2025 tournament. The conflict involved unpaid appearance fees and bonuses, with disagreement between SAFA and the players' union on the nature of the payments owed. Despite SAFA's initial claims that the issue was minor and resolved, the players protested for two days before resuming preparations. Banyana Banyana began their title defense on July 7, 2025, with a 2-0 victory over Ghana at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco, with Linda Motlhalo scoring the opening goal from a penalty. The team secured a place in the quarterfinals of the tournament and was set to face Mali in their final Group C match. The 2025 WAFCON tournament is held in Morocco, where Banyana Banyana also won the title in 2022.