The national women’s football squad showed resilience and determination after coming from two goals down to secure a vital 2-2 draw against Côte d’Ivoire.
Banyana Banyana played their second CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 Group B clash at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Friday evening.
The result keeps South Africa’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive after the defending African champions suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Tanzania in their tournament opener earlier in the week.
Facing intense pressure, Banyana Banyana produced an impressive second-half comeback. Star forward Thembi Kgatlana pulled one goal back before Hildah Magaia found the equaliser, ensuring South Africa claimed an important point in the group standings.
The spirited performance demonstrated the team’s fighting character as they recovered from a difficult first half to avoid a second consecutive defeat.
South Africa is competing in Group B alongside Tanzania, Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals of the continental showpiece.
Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis commended her team for their fight back to secure the crucial point that kept the defending champions a fighting chance.
“We didn’t have a good first half, but what a fighting spirit in the second half and we could have won it in the end. The players showed a lot of resilience, a lot of character and that gives us a little bit of hope and momentum going into the last game of the group stages. The way we ended the second half against Ivory Coast is how we should start the game against Burkina Faso,” said Dr Ellis.
The South Africans will now turn their attention to a decisive Group B encounter against Burkina Faso on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, where a positive result will be crucial in their bid to qualify for the knockout stages.
Image and some correspondence from SAFA
