In-form Mamelodi Sundowns forward/midfielder Wendy Shongwe was the only new player named in Desiree Ellis' 23-woman South Africa squad for phase 1 World Cup Intercontinental Playoff qualifiers in Morocco (Nov. 28 - Dec. 5).
Shongwe is the only player that had not been in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) squad in July - August.
Banyana Banyana are scheduled to play Chinese Taipei on Nov. 28, Ecuador on Dec. 1 and Uzbekistan on Dec. 5.
After three games apiece, the top two teams out of the six contesting phase 1 -- including Papua New Guinea and Ghana -- will advance to phase 2 in February along with two additional CONCACAF teams and one apiece from UEFA and CONMEBOL.
The final phase will see three teams qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil (June 24 - July 25).
Ellis opted for continuity, only trimming the squad that made the quarter-finals at this year's WAFCON rather than building a new formula from scratch.
The likes of Isabella Ludwig, Robyn Moodaly-Salgado, Cimone Sauls and Zoe October will not feature in phase 1, but Shongwe is the only player included who did not feature in Banyana's continental campaign -- which ended in a play-in win over fellow beaten quarter-finalists Nigeria.
Incidentally, Shongwe also did not feature in Banyana's 7-0 aggregate win over Madagascar in Olympic qualifying last month, which saw Mamelodi Sundowns teammate Ronnel Donnelly score five goals across two legs.
Sundowns will play Uganda's Kawempe Muslim Ladies in the semi-finals of the CAF Women's Champions League in Ismailia, Egypt on Wednesday.
Experienced stars Thembi Kgatlana (Tigres UANL), Hildah Magaia (Al-Ittihad, Saudi Arabia), Bongeka Gamede (Nordsjaelland), Linda Motlhalo (Glasgow City), Amogelang Motau (Club Tijuana), Bambanani Mbane, Lebo Ramalepe (both Mamelodi Sundowns) and captain Refiloe Jane all made the cut as expected.
Skipper Jane did not feature in the double-header against Madagascar despite initially being named in the Banyana squad.
While Ellis did experiment somewhat over the course of two legs in Bloemfontein in October, she has gone for her usual tried and trusted approach for Banyana's effort to salvage a World Cup qualifying campaign they would have initially hoped would have been wrapped up with a top four finish at this year's WAFCON.
Banyana squad
Goalkeepers: Andile Dlamini, Kaylin Swart, Kebotseng Katlego Moletsane
Defenders: Karabo Dhlamini, Lebohang Ramalepe, Antonia Maponya, Lonathemba Mhlongo, Khutso Pila, Fikile Magama, Bambanani Mbane
Midfielders: Bongeka Gamede, Linda Motlhalo, Refiloe Jane, Amogelang Motau, Noxolo Cesane, Sibulele Holweni, Nonhlanhla Mthandi
Forwards: Thembi Kgatlana, Wendy Shongwe, Gabriela Moodaly-Salgado, Nthabiseng Majiya, Hildah Magaia, Ronnel Donnelly
