Banyana Banyana aims for World Cup playoffs after Wafcon defeat

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 is required to defeat Burkina Faso, but even a triumph might not be enough as their further fate in the WAFCON tournament depends on the results of the match between Comoros and Tanzania.

Banyana Banyana coach, Desire Ellis, admits that qualification for the WAFCON quarter-finals is not entirely in their hands, so the team needs to do its part and rely on other results to achieve the goal.

On Tuesday evening (at 22:00 SAST), the Banyana team will face Burkina Faso in the Group B final at Mulai Rashid Stadium. This game is decisive after the team started the tournament sluggishly, losing to Tanzania and drawing with Comoros.

These previous results put the team in a difficult position, as they must beat Burkina Faso and hope for a favorable outcome in the match between Comoros and Tanzania, which will start simultaneously in Casablanca.

If both teams, Banyana and Comoros, win their matches, then Ellis's team will take second place in the group behind their West African rivals, which will secure a spot in the top two and passage to the quarter-finals.

Reaching the round of 16 is paramount for Banyana, as it will allow them to remain on track for the third consecutive Women's World Cup—either through the semi-finals or through tense playoffs if they reach the quarter-finals.

Before the match, Ellis stated that she understands the danger posed by Burkina Faso but expressed confidence in the sufficient depth of the squad to fight well and achieve the desired result.

"All games in the tournament are different, and this is no exception," said Ellis. "They have demonstrated their quality and organization, but we must focus on ourselves." She added: "We know what we have to do: we must win the game. That is the most important thing. We can only control what is in our hands. If we win the game with a sufficient number of goals, we give ourselves a strong chance of advancing."

The pressure has not eased, nor has their belief. The team has prepared for this and knows what is expected of it, as explained by confident @amogelang_motau before the Banyana Banyana vs. Burkina Faso match.

Considering that the group table also takes into account head-to-head results, Banyana will also advance to the quarter-finals if both they and Tanzania win, provided they score a large number of goals against Burkina Faso and Comoros.

Since the team conceded goals in both matches—amid changes in the squad, with Andile Dlamini and Kaylin Swart taking starting positions—Ellis understands that her team needs to be very solid in defense and ruthless in attack.

"We have shown what we are capable of and demonstrated our resilience. Therefore, we must build on that and aim for a clean sheet," concluded Ellis. "We have not been ahead in this tournament yet, so we need to change that and score first."

The Banyana Banyana team has reached a critical point in its campaign at the WAFCON tournament, as they are scheduled to play against Burkina Faso on Tuesday evening. Only a convincing victory will allow them to maintain hopes of advancing to the playoffs.

The South African national team started the tournament with high expectations but faced difficulties, suffering an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Tanzania in the first group stage match B. In the second match, the team showed character, managing to come back from two goals down against Costa d'Ivoire in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw. Nevertheless, this result left the team under the guidance of Desiree Ellis with very little room for error before the final group game.

Now the team's task is extremely clear: they must win against Burkina Faso while also monitoring the result of another match in the group, as the qualification scenario remains highly uncertain. For Ellis and her technical team, the main challenge lies in finding a balance between aggressive attack and defensive stability.

Throughout the tournament, Banyana has shown the ability to create chances, and its attacking players are capable of causing problems for opponents' defenders. However, inconsistency in converting created opportunities puts unnecessary pressure on the team. The match against Burkina Faso will require greater efficiency in the final third, especially from forwards such as experienced players Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia. South Africa's defense also needs to eliminate errors that allowed opponents to punish them in transitional phases.

In the match against Tanzania, Banyana suffered from moments of individual skill, while Costa d'Ivoire exposed the weaknesses of the South Africans before they could mount a comeback. Burkina Faso will arrive with confidence after their results, which have secured them a strong position in the qualification race, making this match much more dangerous than initially anticipated.

For Banyana, experience may prove to be the deciding factor. The main squad has gone through major tournaments, including a triumph at WAFCON in 2022 and recent FIFA Women's World Cup campaigns. Ellis will rely on this leadership to guide young players through the intense encounter. The tournament has also tested South Africa's ability to handle the pressure of expectations. After winning the continental title in 2022, every opponent approaches them with greater confidence, making consistency and game management even more crucial. Tuesday gives Banyana the opportunity to remind the continent why they remain one of Africa's leading women's football nations. Their path at WAFCON now depends on their ability to perform under maximum pressure.