Banyana beat Burkina Faso to set up Wafcon quarterfinal clash with hosts Morocco

Banyana Banyana earned a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burkina Faso to progress to the knockout stage of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) on Tuesday night at the Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca.

Banyana will now meet hosts Morocco in the quarterfinal in Rabat on Saturday where a place in the semifinal and the 2027 Fifa World Cup in Brazil will be at stake.

Banyana had to beat Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast get all three points from their match with Tanzania and that’s how it unfolded in Casablanca to settle Group B.

South Africa, who gave a much-improved performance from their previous outings at the tournament, benefited from Ivory Coast’s 2-1 win over Tanzania in the other match at the Stade Larbi Zaouli.

South Africa and coach Desiree Ellis came into this match under pressure after defeat to Tanzania and draw with Ivory Coast.

They finished the group stage on second spot after Ivory Coast with four points but they must be a lot better in the next round.

Ellis left nothing to chance as she started the match with experienced campaigners Kaylin Swart, Bambanani Mbane, Refiloe Jane, Linda Matlhalo, Hildah Magaia, Noxolo Cesane and Thembi Kgatlane.

Banyana opened the scoring after 21 minutes when striker Kgatlana connected with a defense-splitting pass that was delivered from the midfield by Fikile Magama.

There were two personal milestones in this match with Magaia and Gabriela Moodaly-Solgado, who came on as a second-half substitute, registered 50 caps for the national team.