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    Thembi Kgatlana Fires Banyana Banyana into WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Finals

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    Sasol Banyana Banyana are through to the quarter-finals of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) after Thembi Kgatlana’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Tuesday, 4 August 2026.

    Needing victory to progress while the Burkinabe required only a draw, in a group Ellis had publicly framed as the toughest of the draw, the 2022 African champions delivered under the greatest pressure of their campaign, setting up a quarter-final against hosts Morocco in Rabat on Saturday with a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup now one win away.

    Head coach Dr Desiree Ellis made two changes from the Côte d’Ivoire draw, restoring Hildah Magaia to the starting side and handing Isabella Ludwig a first start of the tournament, with Bongeka Gamede and Nthabiseng Majiya dropping out of the XI.

    The decisive night began with a scare. Adama Congo pounced on a loose South African touch and raced clear on goal, only for goalkeeper Kaylin Swart to stand tall and smother the danger.

    Banyana Banyana settled and struck in the 21st minute, Fikile Magama’s perfectly weighted through-ball releasing Kgatlana, who kept her composure to beat goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou for her second goal in successive matches. It took her tally to eight goals at WAFCON finals, spread across the 2018, 2022 and 2026 editions.

    Burkina Faso pushed hard for an equaliser after the break and created openings, but a disciplined South African defensive effort held firm, with Ellis turning to Amogelang Motau and Lebohang Ramalepe in a double change to help see the contest out, as South Africa recorded a first clean sheet of the tournament after conceding four goals across the opening two matches.

    All smiles behind the lens, Kgatlana shows off the Woman of the Match trophy her match-winning strike so richly earned. Photo: CAF
    All smiles behind the lens, Kgatlana shows off the Woman of the Match trophy her match-winning strike so richly earned. Photo: CAF

    Côte d’Ivoire beat Tanzania 2-1 in the other final-round fixture, results that crowned the Ivorians Group B winners on seven points with South Africa second on four, ahead of Tanzania and Burkina Faso on three apiece.

    “Well done Banyana Banyana. We are fully behind you and we are aware that one more victory will qualify us for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027,” said SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan.

    The stakes in Rabat could not be clearer. The four semi-finalists qualify directly for Brazil 2027, while the losing quarter-finalists drop into a play-off round for two places in an intercontinental qualifier, meaning victory over the Atlas Lionesses offers the most direct route to the global stage. 

    Morocco topped Group A on home soil after opening their campaign with a 4-0 win over Kenya in Rabat.

    The win completes a remarkable recovery from an opening-night defeat to Tanzania, through the two-goal fightback against Côte d’Ivoire, to a night when Kgatlana’s decisive intervention arrived for the second match running. 

    It also preserves South Africa’s unbeaten record against Burkina Faso, following the 3-1 aggregate victory in qualifying for the previous edition, in the sides’ first meeting at a WAFCON finals.

    The quarter-final against Morocco takes place at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Saturday, 8 August 2026 at 22h00 SA time.

    The Sasol Banyana Banyana WAFCON 2026 Group B Campaign

    Mon 27 July: South Africa 1-2 Tanzania
    Fri 31 July: South Africa 2-2 Côte d’Ivoire
    Tue 4 August: South Africa 1-0 Burkina Faso

    The Sasol Banyana Banyana WAFCON 2026 Quarter-Final

    22h00 Saturday, 8 August: Morocco vs. South Africa (Moulay El Hassan Stadium, Rabat)

    All Times CAT

    South Africa Starting XI

    1 Kaylin Swart (Goalkeeper)
    24 Antonia Maponya
    7 Karabo Dhlamini
    13 Bambanani Mbane
    5 Fikile Magama
    15 Refiloe Jane (Captain)
    10 Linda Motlhalo
    6 Noxolo Cesane
    19 Isabella Ludwig
    11 Thembi Kgatlana
    8 Hildah Magaia

    South Africa Substitutes Used

    Amogelang Motau
    Lebohang Ramalepe

    Burkina Faso Starting XI

    Nina Dabilgou (Goalkeeper)
    Stéphanie Sow
    Adama Congo
    Alimata Belem
    Rasmata Sawadogo
    Balkissa Sawadogo
    Madinatou Rouamba (Captain)
    Naomie Adèle Kabré
    Juliette Nana
    Safiatou Sam
    Judicaël Ouoba

    Burkina Faso Substitutes Used

    Élodie Goungounga
    Déborah Guira
    Mouniratou Compaoré
    Faridatou Tarnagda

    Original Copy: SAFA, with editing by gsport

    Main Photo Caption: Thembi Kgatlana strikes her trademark celebration after firing Sasol Banyana Banyana into the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals with the only goal of the 1-0 win over Burkina Faso at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. Photo: CAF

    Photo 2 Caption: All smiles behind the lens, Kgatlana shows off the Woman of the Match trophy her match-winning strike so richly earned. Photo: CAF

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