Kgatlana Fires South Africa into WAFCON Quarters

Star striker Thembi Kgatlana scored a decisive 21st-minute goal to propel South Africa into the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-finals with a tense 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in Casablanca on Tuesday.

Kgatlana capitalised on a defensive blunder by Madinatou Rouamba, tapping home a Fikile Magama cross to secure the vital win.

Defending champions South Africa then survived relentless second-half pressure, bolstered by goalkeeper Kaylin Swart’s sharp saves and an early second-half VAR review that overturned a Burkina Faso penalty.

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The victory, combined with Ivory Coast’s 2-1 win over Tanzania in the simultaneous Group B fixture, pushed Banyana Banyana into second place in the group with four points.

Kgatlana fires South Africa into WAFCON quarters (News Central TV) — Kgatlana fires South Africa into WAFCON quarters. Credit: Olympics.com

South Africa now advance to face host nation Morocco in a high-stakes quarter-final on Saturday in Rabat, where a victory would secure both a spot in the WAFCON semi-finals and automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.