As South Africa commemorates Women's Month and reflects on the legacy of the historic 1956 Womens March,
\nunder the theme \u201cEmpowered Women Empower The Nation,\u201d Stayfree \u2013 Banyana Banyana Official Sanitary
\nPad Sponsor \u2013 celebrates the determination, resilience and impact of South Africas national womens football
\nteam following a rollercoaster finish to their 2026 Womens Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign: a
\nhard-fought 2-1 quarter-final defeat to hosts Morocco, followed by a spirited 2-1 second-chance play-off win
\nover Nigeria.
\nWhile Banyana Banyanas WAFCON title journey has come to an end, their campaign has delivered much more
\nthan results on the pitch. To date, the team has scored in every match of the tournament, taking their Goals 4
\nPads tally to eight goals and unlocking 8,000 packs of Stayfree sanitary pads for donation to grassroots female
\nfootball academies and schoolgirls football teams across South Africa.
\nThe latest result, a 2-1 win over Nigeria in the WAFCON second-chance play-off, added two further goals and
\nunlocked another 2,000 packs, bringing the campaign total from 6,000 to 8,000 packs.
\nLaunched in June under the #KeepingThemLockedIn campaign platform, Stayfree Goals 4 Pads initiative
\ncommits the brand to gifting 1,000 packs of sanitary pads for every goal scored by Banyana Banyana. The
\ninitiative creates a direct connection between the team's performances on the international stage and greater
\naccess to menstrual health products for the next generation of female footballers.
\nThe eight goals include Banyana Banyana opening strike during their international fixture against Japan in June,
\nfollowed by seven goals across their WAFCON campaign. Importantly, Banyana Banyana have found the back
\nof the net in every match they have played at this year tournament, demonstrating the attacking spirit and
\ndetermination that have characterised their campaign.
\nEvery goal now represents more than a moment on the scoreboard. It represents confidence under pressure,
\nuninterrupted performance and the opportunity for more girls to pursue their sporting ambitions without
\nmenstruation becoming a barrier to participation.<\/p>\n
Speaking during Women's Month, Kelly Johnson, Head of Essential and Skin Health at Kenvue Sub-Sahara
\nAfrica, said the campaign demonstrates the powerful impact that can be created when sport and social purpose
\ncome together.
\n\u201cBanyana Banyana have once again shown us what resilience, determination and belief look like. While the
\nresult against Morocco was not what the team or the nation hoped for, their journey has given us so many
\nmoments to celebrate. Most importantly for Goals 4 Pads, they have scored in every match of their WAFCON
\ncampaign, taking the initiative to 8,000 packs of Stayfree sanitary pads for young girls across South Africa.
\n\u201cEight goals means 8,000 packs, but the impact goes far beyond that number. Every pack represents an
\nopportunity for a young girl to feel confident, protected and able to focus on what she loves. During Women's
\nMonth, we are proud to celebrate Banyana Banyana not only for what they achieve on the field, but for the
\nexample they continue to set for the next generation.
\n\u201cTheir WAFCON journey may have ended, but their World Cup journey certainly has not (and their 2-1 win
\nover Nigeria is a clear indication of that).\u201d
\nThe partnership continues to champion an important conversation in women sport: the relationship between
\nmenstrual confidence and athletic performance.
\nThrough Stayfree partnership with Banyana Banyana, the same focus on confidence, protection and
\nperformance that supports South Africa national team is being extended to young players at grassroots level.
\nThe initiative aims to help ensure that menstruation does not prevent girls from attending training,
\nparticipating in matches or pursuing their sporting ambitions.
\nBanyana Banyana now have another opportunity to continue their road to the FIFA Women World Cup, as they
\nadvance to the FIFA Women World Cup Inter-Confederation Play-Off Tournament, the final step in their bid
\nto reach the 2027 FIFA Women World Cup in Brazil. The first phase runs in November and December
\n2026 at a centralised venue still to be confirmed by FIFA, where South Africa will feature in a six-team
\npreliminary group stage alongside fellow African qualifiers Ghana, two teams from Asia, one from Oceania and
\none from South America. Successful teams then progress to a knockout final stage in February 2027,
\ncompeting for the last remaining spots at the global tournament.
\nAs Banyana Banyana prepare for this next phase, Johnson added: \u201cWe will continue standing behind them and
\ncelebrating every goal, every milestone and every girl whose dreams are unlocked along the way.\u201d
\nFor Stayfree, the commitment remains clear: every Banyana Banyana goal can help unlock greater
\nconfidence and opportunity for the next generation.<\/p>\n
Eight goals. 8,000 packs. Countless futures unlocked.<\/p>\n
Players. Pads. Performance.
\n#KeepingThemLockedIn<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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