A dramatic evening at the Stade Père Jégo saw the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Group B take another twist. After falling behind to a first-half Grace Sery double, South Africa rallied with goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia to secure a point. In the earlier game, Burkina Faso edged Tanzania 2-1, with Bilkissa Sawadogo scoring the winner.
Banyana Banyana Stare at Defeat After Sery Brace
Côte d’Ivoire, seeking to build on their opening victory, dominated the early exchanges and took a deserved lead in the 18th minute. Eighteen-year-old Grace Sery finished off a swift counterattack, beating goalkeeper Kaylyn Swart to put the Lady Elephants ahead. The teenage forward doubled her tally before the interval, latching onto a perfectly weighted lob from N’sira Ouedraogo and calmly slotting home.
That brace handed Côte d’Ivoire a commanding 2-0 advantage at halftime. Banyana Banyana, who had suffered a shocking opening defeat to Tanzania, looked set for another disappointing result. However, the South African side emerged from the break with renewed determination, pressing higher and forcing the Ivorian defence into errors.
Second-Half Revival: Kgatlana and Magaia Strike Back
South Africa’s persistence paid off in the 71st minute. Captain Refilwe Jane found Thembi Kgatlana, whose superb curling effort flew beyond goalkeeper Aramatou Diakite to halve the deficit. The goal shifted the momentum entirely, with Banyana piling on pressure in the closing stages.
Their reward arrived when Ronnel Donnelly nodded the ball into the path of Hildah Magaia, who kept her composure to fire home the equaliser. The remarkable comeback earned South Africa a crucial point, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive with a single point from two matches.
Burkina Faso Secure Historic Victory Over 10-Player Tanzania
Earlier in the day, Burkina Faso revived their qualification hopes with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tanzania. The Lady Stallions, who suffered a heavy defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in their opener, responded impressively. Adele Kabré gave them a deserved lead two minutes before halftime.
Tanzania’s task became even tougher 10 minutes into the second half when Hasnath Ubamba, the match-winner from their victory over South Africa, was sent off. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Twiga Stars refused to surrender. Aisha Mnunka restored parity in the 62nd minute, breathing fresh life into their quarter-final ambitions.
But Burkina Faso had the final say. With 10 minutes remaining, Bilkissa Sawadogo struck the decisive goal to hand the Lady Stallions all three points and their first victory of the tournament. The win ensures Burkina Faso remain firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
Group B Wide Open as Final Round Approaches
The latest results have transformed Group B into one of the tournament’s most unpredictable pools. Côte d’Ivoire lead the standings with four points, while Tanzania and Burkina Faso are level on three points. South Africa’s dramatic comeback leaves them on one point, but with qualification still mathematically within reach.
With all four teams still capable of progressing, the final round of Group B fixtures promises a thrilling battle for the two quarter-final tickets. The margin for error is now razor-thin, and any of the four sides could finish anywhere from first to last depending on the results.
For South Africa, the draw feels like a turning point after their opening disappointment. For Côte d’Ivoire, despite surrendering a two-goal lead, they remain top of the group and in control of their destiny. Burkina Faso’s first-ever WAFCON group-stage win injects fresh belief into the rising West African side, while Tanzania will look to regroup despite the costly red card.
All eyes now turn to the final set of fixtures, where strategy, nerve, and squad depth will decide who advances from Group B in the women’s football showcase on the continent.
