* Fails to keep FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 hopes alive after losing 0-2 to South Africa in play-off yesterday
* As Ghana fought back to beat Côte d’Ivoire to keep World Cup dreams alive ahead of the inter-confederation play-offs
Maravi Express
Nigeria, who were stunned 3-2 by debutants Malawi Scorchers in the opening group match of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026, have beaten beaten for the third time — losing 1-2 to South Africa in the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 play-off played yesterday.
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After losing to the Scorchers, the 10-time winners picked themselves up by beating Zambia 1-0 and Egypt 6-2 only to lose 0-1 to Cameroon on the quarterfinals.
For South Africa, despite seeing their WAfCON campaign come to an end before the semi-finals, they produced a spirited display to overcome the Super Falcons and move one step closer to securing a place at the global showpiece.
The first half proved a tightly contested affair, with both sides battling for control but unable to find the breakthrough before the interval.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 56th minute when South Africa launched a swift counterattack when Hildah Magaia provided the final pass for Thembi Kgatlana, who kept her composure to slot home and give Banyana Banyana the lead.
Kgatlana almost doubled South Africa’s advantage moments later but was unable to keep her close-range effort on target.
Nigeria continued to search for a response and came close in the 75th minute when Uchenna Kanu rose highest to meet a cross, only to see her header well saved by Kaylin Swart who produced a Woman of the Match performance.
Just a minute later, South Africa struck again. Refiloe Jane reacted to a loose ball inside the area and fired a shot through a crowded penalty box to make it 2-0.
Banyana Banyana nearly added a third immediately after the restart, but Magaia was unable to keep her effort down after meeting a delightful delivery into the area.
With defeat looming, Nigeria committed more players forward in search of a way back into the contest and were rewarded deep into stoppage time.
Following a VAR review, the Super Falcons were awarded a penalty after Jane was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the area.
The South African midfielder received a second yellow card and was sent off, while substitute Christy Ucheibe calmly converted from the spot.
Nigeria pressed for a dramatic equaliser in the closing moments, but South Africa held firm to secure a memorable victory and keep their FIFA Women’s World Cup ambitions alive.
The result sees Banyana Banyana advance to the next stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification pathway, along with Ghana — who came from behind to beat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1.
The Black Queens trailed after just four minutes at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium when Ines Konan converted a penalty to give Côte d’Ivoire the perfect start.
But Ghana produced a determined second-half response, with Princess Marfo equalising in the 59th minute before Josephine Bonsu scored from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute to complete the turnaround.
The result keeps alive Ghana’s hopes of returning to the Women’s World Cup for the first time since 2007 and gives the Black Queens another route towards qualification for Brazil 2027.
For Côte d’Ivoire, the defeat ends their hopes of reaching a second Women’s World Cup following their sole previous appearance in 2015.
The Black Queens featured at three successive Women’s World Cups in 1999, 2003 and 2007 but have failed to qualify for the four editions since.
Their hopes of ending that long absence remain alive.—Reporting by CAFonline; editing by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
Group stage results, standings and knockout stage fixtures (kick-off times CAT beamed live on SuperSport live on DStv Channel 225 (https://dstv.stream) and on GOtv Channel 61 (https://gotv.stream):
Group A
Algeria 2-0 Senegal
Morocco 4-0 Kenya
Senegal 1-0 Kenya
Morocco 1-0 Algeria
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Kenya 0-2 Algeria
Group B
South Africa 1-2 Tanzania
Côte d’Ivoire 4-1 Burkina Faso
South Africa 2-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Burkina Faso 2-1 Tanzania
Burkina Faso 0-1 South Africa
Tanzania 1-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Group C
Zambia 6-0 Egypt
Nigeria 3-2 Malawi
Egypt 1-3 Malawi
Nigeria 1-0 Zambia
Egypt 2-6 Nigeria
Malawi 1-2 Zambia
Group D
Ghana 2-0 Cape Verde
Cameroon 2-1 Mali
Ghana 0-1 Cameroon
Mali 3-2 Cape Verde
Mali 1-1 Ghana
Cape Verde 1-1 Cameroon
Quarterfinals
Côte d’Ivoire 1-2 Algeria
Morocco 2-1 South Africa
Cameroon 1-0 Nigeria
Malawi 2-1 Ghana
Semifinals
Algeria 1-3 Malawi
Morocco 0(1) – 0(3) Cameroon
World Cup 2027 play-off matches
South Africa 2-1 Nigeria
Côte d’Ivoire 1-2 Ghana
Third place play-off
Tomorrow, August 15
Algeria v Morocco (19h00)
WAfCON 2026 final
Sunday, August 16
Malawi v Cameroon (Moulay Hassan Stadium or Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, (21h00)
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