Banyana Banyana prepares for WAFCON quarter-final against hosts Morocco

Banyana Banyana forward Tembi Kgatlana stated that the team never intended to easily relinquish its chances of reaching the Wafcon quarter-finals after securing that spot with a hard-fought victory over Burkina Faso on Tuesday.

Thanks to Kgatlana's single goal, Banyana defeated Burkina Faso, finishing second in Group B with four points. Costa de Mar, who beat Tanzania 2-1 in the final group stage match, topped the group.

The South African squad entered the match under significant pressure, as they needed to win to compensate for a poor start to the tournament, which included a loss to Tanzania and a draw with Costa de Mar. The 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso allowed Banyana Banyana to advance to the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals.

Kgatlana, who received the player of the match award, noted that sometimes football gives you what you deserve. She emphasized that the team started very slowly but managed to pick up momentum in the last game. According to her, it is always important in the history of South African football to move forward.

"We weren't going to give up easily. I scored after a defensive error, and that helped us control the game a bit better," added Kgatlana. She admitted that the team lacked clinical sharpness or fluidity for a comfortable win against the 'Lady Stallions,' but believes that achieving the result was more important than style.

"Sometimes football doesn't always go according to the tactical plan. You get three points and move forward. I think that's what our team needed. You can see that everyone is happy and smiling in the locker room. They know how much progress means," shared Kgatlana.

Now Banyana Banyana will face the tournament hosts, Morocco, in the quarter-finals in Rabat on Saturday. A win in this match will ensure direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup, while a defeat will require participation in playoffs to earn a spot in Brazil.

The Banyana Banyana team managed to advance to the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) quarter-finals after a tense 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso. The goal scored by Thembi Kgatlana was decisive in the match, which took place during the final round of Group B at Prince Moulay Rashid Stadium in Casablanca on Tuesday evening.

Thanks to this win, the South Africans secured second place in the group, accumulating four points. Their progression was made possible by Costa Rica defeating Tanzania in their parallel match, which benefited Banyana because any other result against Tanzania could have worked against them according to the head-to-head rule, considering their loss to Twiga Stars in the first match.

Banyana was aware that their performance in the group stage was not the best. Therefore, they needed to demonstrate a higher level of play against the host team Morocco in the quarter-finals on Saturday to contend for a spot in the Wafcon semi-finals and, consequently, in the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Although a defeat to Morocco would not mean the end of hopes for the World Cup, the team would have had to qualify through difficult continental and intercontinental playoffs.

It has been ten years since Banyana last reached the final round of the Wafcon group stage needing a win to advance. At that time, they achieved this by securing a convincing 5-0 victory over Egypt, which boosted their confidence in repeating success in Casablanca.

Banyana did its part by beating Burkina Faso 1-0. Costa Rica also succeeded by defeating Tanzania 2-1 in the simultaneous start, allowing them to take first place in the group ahead of South Africa's second place.

An early exit for Banyana would have been painful. They were in such a precarious position due to their own mistakes: careless defense led to a loss to Tanzania, and then they drew with Costa Rica.

Despite these shortcomings, coach Desiré Ellis maintained high confidence in the team, expecting the players to give their all against Burkina Faso, while hoping for a favorable outcome in the other match.

This is exactly what happened. Kaylin Swart prevented an early threat to Banyana by intercepting a dangerous cross. This calmed the team's nerves, allowing them to control the game and advance into the final third of the field.

Captain and Player of the Day Refilo Jane, who is 34 years old, set the pace of the match, giving Isabelle Ludwig—one of the two substitutes playing against Costa Rica—enough freedom for maneuvers.

Banyana's persistence paid off when the Burkina Faso defenders could not handle the attack, allowing Thembi Kgatlana to capitalize on a pass from Fikile Magama and send the ball past goalkeeper Nina Dabilgu.

Kgatlana could have put Banyana in a dominant position with a second goal in the match, but she missed from close range after Jane organized a free kick with a well-thought-out combination.

Banyana held onto the lead until halftime. Then Ellis made substitutions in the half, bringing on Amogelang Motau and Lebokhanga Ramalephe instead of Linda Motlhalho and Noksolo Sesane, respectively.

Ellis's side almost lost control of the advantage shortly after this when referee Alin Eton awarded Burkina Faso a penalty, believing that Antonia Maponya had fouled the opponent in the box. However, after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor, she overturned her decision.

After overcoming this danger, Banyana increased the pressure, pushing more players forward, with Kgatlana leading the attack. However, Kgatlana's hard work went unnoticed as her teammates failed to finish the attacks in the penalty area.

Ellis added even more attacking players, including Gabriela Mudali-Salgado, to support Kgatlana up front. Although Banyana could not establish a two-goal lead, it ultimately did not matter—Kgatlana's goal and Costa Rica's victory secured Banyana's place in the quarter-finals.

The South African team Banyana Banyana is preparing for an important match against Côte d'Ivoire in the second round of Group B of the WAFCON 2026 tournament, which will take place in Morocco on Friday. Gaining points in this encounter is critically important for maintaining qualification chances.

Context and current group standing

The South African national team enters the game under pressure following an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Tanzania in the first match. This result demands an immediate reaction from the team. Currently, Banyana occupies third place in Group B, ahead of Burkina Faso, which is in last place after a 4-1 loss to Côte d'Ivoire in the first round.

Tactical objectives for the team

Despite the tight standings, every point holds immense value for progression. For the team, Diseri Ellis' priority will be correcting the mistakes shown in the debut match. The biggest concern is attacking efficiency: Banyana created enough chances against Tanzania, but lacked the composure to convert them.

Against Côte d'Ivoire, which demonstrated attacking potential by scoring four goals in the first match, South Africa cannot afford to miss clear opportunities. It is necessary to improve the interaction and combination play between Tembi Kgatlana, Hilda Magai, and the midfield. The team requires greater stability in creating quality goal-scoring chances, not just reliance on individual skill.

Defensive and midfield zones

In defense, South Africa also needs to increase discipline upon losing possession. Tanzania exploited spaces during transitions, and Côte d'Ivoire's confident attacking play means such shortcomings could lead to serious losses. The balance between advancing players forward and maintaining defensive coverage will be a key tactical task for Ellis. The battle in the midfield may also be a decisive factor.

Significance of the upcoming match

Banyana must achieve greater ball control while simultaneously preventing Côte d'Ivoire from dictating the pace of the game. Experience remains one of South Africa's main strengths, and players like Kgatlana, Magai, and captain Refilow Jane are expected to lead at this critical moment of the tournament. As one of Africa's most stable women's football nations, Banyana intends to show that the first defeat was merely a temporary setback.

Although Côte d'Ivoire presents a tougher challenge, the Friday match gives South Africa a chance to make a statement and restore confidence in the squad. A win would allow Banyana to return to a strong position in Group B, whereas another loss would put the team in a difficult final match scenario for the group stage. Since they still have to play Burkina Faso in the last round of the group, the team knows that qualification remains in their hands, but a positive result against Côte d'Ivoire makes this meeting possibly the most important in the group stage.