WAFCON: Kgatlana on target as South Africa seal quarter-final berth

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WAFCON: Kgatlana on target as South Africa seal quarter-final berth
Thembi Kgatlana of Banyana Banyana, Image: SAFA

A first-half strike from Thembi Kgatlana was all Banyana Banyana of South Africa needed to defy the odds and beat Burkina Faso 1-0 to make the WAFCON quarter-final from Group B, alongside Ivory Coast.

Having scored a late goal against Ivory Coast to get a point in a 2-2 draw during the last game, the Desiree Ellis-led team were aware that a win on Tuesday was all they needed to stand a chance of making the quarter-final.

The tacticiam opted to go with her best, hoping they will deliver a win, and a place in the knockout phase.

Kgatlana on target!

In the 12th minute, goalkeeper Kaylin Swart had to be alert to deny ….. on the other end, goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou did well to parry Isabella Ludwig’s effort to safety.

Banyana Banyana eventually got their goal in the 21st minute as a low pass from Fikile Magama found Thembi Kgatlana in the 18-yard box, and the versatile 30-year-old easily beat the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

With five minutes to the break, the hard-fighting Burkina Faso could have equalised from a well-taken free kick. But a header from Juliette Nana narrowly missed the target to ensure South Africa went to the break with a vital 1-0 lead.

Banyana Banyana into the last 8!

Burkina Faso started the second half well and thought they had won a penalty from a foul, but VAR intervened as re-plays showed Antonia Maponya touched the ball before making contact.

It could have been 2-0 in the 33rd minute; Kgatlana did all the donkey-work on the right wing, but Ludwig failed to make that critical contact with the ball just outside the six-yard area.

South Africa had another huge opportunity to double the advantage with 25 minutes to go, but Amogelang Motau just couldn’t hit the back of the net from close range.

In the end, Banyana Banyana had done enough to set up a date with hosts Morocco in the quarter-final scheduled for August 8 at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

<!-- Author Start -->Willis Sob<!-- Author End -->

Willis Sob

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Willis Sob is a sports betting expert and journalist covering Nigeria and South Africa, with 16 years of experience. With a background in journalism, reporting and programme production, he specialises in football odds, and his work has appeared on OK Africa and GOAL, as well as TV, radio and podcasts.

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