Images: South Africa's WAFCON 2026 Team Features Historic First with Lesbian Duo

South Africa's historic encounter with Tanzania on Monday at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations marked a groundbreaking moment, as Robyn Moodaly and Gabriela Salgado became the first married couple to feature together for Banyana Banyana in a WAFCON match.

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This milestone was achieved during South Africa's Group B opener against Tanzania on Monday, July 27, a first in the history of the continental tournament, which has been held since 1991.

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The Women's Africa Cup of Nations, organised by the Confederation of African Football, has evolved into Africa's premier women's football tournament, with the 2026 edition witnessing another landmark moment through the participation of Moodaly and Salgado.

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As regular members of the South African women's national team, Moodaly and Salgado have been prominent figures in the country's football scene, openly sharing their relationship with fans, according to Leagues Reporter, a football platform that posted their picture together.

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Their joint appearance underscored the growing inclusiveness of women's football, adding a memorable chapter to South Africa's rich history in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, as the pair continue to play key roles for the reigning African champions.

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Moodaly and Salgado have both represented Banyana Banyana at major international competitions, and their historic feat has drawn widespread attention from football fans, with many celebrating the couple's achievement as a landmark moment for African women's football.

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Notably, Robyn Moodaly and Gabriela Salgado are the first married couple to feature in the same match in the history of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, achieving this feat during South Africa's opening Group B match against Tanzania on Monday, July 27, 2026.

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Both Moodaly and Salgado represent South Africa's senior women's national team, Banyana Banyana, with Moodaly known for her creativity and technical ability as an attacking midfielder.

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Gabriela Salgado is a forward who has represented South Africa at several major international tournaments, born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, to a Portuguese father and a Lebanese mother.

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Salgado was first called up to the South Africa national team on 22 January 2017, albeit as an unused substitute against France, and was later named to the senior women's team at the 2020 COSAFA Women's Championship.

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She scored the team's winning goal in the 66th minute in the final, en route to their seventh COSAFA title, and on 22 July 2025, she fractured her mid-shaft in her left leg during the semi-final match against Nigeria, ruling her out for the remainder of the year.

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The couple, who are married, have publicly shared aspects of their relationship on social media, and have both been part of South Africa's recent generation of players competing at the highest level of women's football.

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Robyn Moodaly plays for Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies, while Gabriela Salgado plays for Tigres UANL Femenil in Mexico, and their joint appearance at WAFCON represents a unique milestone in African football history.

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Their participation highlights the increasing visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes in women's football, marking a significant moment in the history of the sport.