A quarter-final heartbreak in Morocco is already in the rear-view mirror as South Africa beat Nigeria to book a place in the FIFA Playoff Tournament.
Morocco (14 August 2026) – For a moment, it looked like Banyana Banyana’s road to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup had taken a serious detour.
After their WAFCON quarter-final exit meant they missed out on one of Africa’s four automatic World Cup spots, there was plenty of reason to wonder whether the dream was slipping away. Well, not so fast!
Banyana Banyana have found another way to keep their World Cup hopes alive, beating old rivals Nigeria 2-1 in Casablanca on Thursday to book their place in next year’s FIFA Playoff Tournament.
The South Africans came out firing in the second half, with Thembi Kgatlana breaking the deadlock in the 56th minute after being picked out beautifully by Hilda Magaia.
Captain Refiloe Jane then doubled the advantage in the 77th minute, finding the net from the edge of the box to put Banyana in control.
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WATCH: South Africans Bring a Little Mzansi Magic to the Berlin MarathonJane was shown a red card during stoppage time after being penalised for handling the ball inside the area, giving Nigeria a chance to claw their way back into the contest. Christy Ucheibe converted from the spot to make it 2-1.
The Super Falcons pushed hard for an equaliser, but Kaylin Swart was having absolutely none of it.
The Banyana goalkeeper produced save after save to keep Nigeria at bay and was deservedly named Woman of the Match.
And when the final whistle finally arrived, the celebrations said it all.
The victory means South Africa will now head into the FIFA Playoff Tournament in November, where two African and two Asian teams, along with representatives from Oceania and South America, will battle for the remaining World Cup places.
So, if you thought the World Cup dream had gone quiet after that WAFCON quarter-final heartbreak. Banyana have just turned the volume back up.
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