Banyana Banyana have taken another crucial step towards the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after edging fierce rivals Nigeria 2-1 in Casablanca on Thursday.
The result means South Africa will now have another opportunity to fight for a place at next year’s global showpiece after both teams missed out on automatic qualification through the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The two African giants were eliminated in the WAFCON quarter-finals, ending their hopes of claiming one of the continent’s four automatic World Cup places. Their meeting in Casablanca therefore carried significant weight, with a place in the FIFA Playoff Tournament at stake.
South Africa made their dominance count after the break, with Thembi Kgatlana opening the scoring in the 56th minute.
Kgatlana finished off a well-worked move after receiving a perfectly timed pass from Hilda Magaia to put Banyana Banyana in front.
Captain Refiloe Jane then gave South Africa breathing room 11 minutes from time when she unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area to make it 2-0.
Nigeria responded through Christy Ucheibe, who converted a penalty to reduce the deficit, but Banyana Banyana held firm to secure the victory.
The win sends South Africa into the FIFA Playoff Tournament, scheduled for November 2026. The tournament will feature two teams from Africa and Asia, along with one representative each from Oceania and South America.
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