Banyana fight back to earn crucial draw against Côte d'Ivoire at WAFCON - Inside Politics
By Lebone Rodah Mosima Banyana Banyana staged a spirited second-half comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Côte d’Ivoire in their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 Group B clash on Friday, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive. Banyana recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit as Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia scored […]
a spirited second-half comeback to earn a 2-2 draw against Côte d’Ivoire in their TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 Group B clash on Friday, keeping their quarter-final hopes alive. Banyana recovered from a two-goal half-time deficit as Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia scored late in the match to rescue a valuable point. “Banyana Banyana showed remarkable resilience as Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia struck in the closing stages to earn a valuable point after a difficult first half,” the Confederation of African Football (CAF) reported last night on its official website. Côte d’Ivoire made the brighter start and almost opened the scoring after 15 minutes when Amon Elloh curled an effort narrowly wide. The breakthrough came three minutes later through 18-year-old Grace Sery, who finished calmly beyond goalkeeper Kaylyn Swart after a swift counter-attack exposed the South African defence. South Africa nearly responded immediately, but Bongeka Gamede headed over the crossbar in the 20th minute. The Ivorians doubled their lead before the break as Sery completed her brace in similar fashion. N’sira Ouedraogo released the teenager with a perfectly weighted lobbed pass, allowing her to race through on goal and finish confidently past Swart. South Africa emerged with greater urgency after the interval and gradually took control of possession as they searched for a route back into the contest. Their persistence paid off in the 71st minute when captain Refilwe Jane picked out Kgatlana, who cut inside before firing an unstoppable shot beyond goalkeeper Aramatou Diakite. Their reward came in the closing stages when Ronnel Donnelly headed a perfectly weighted lay-off into the path of Magaia, who kept her composure to finish clinically and complete South Africa’s comeback. The result leaves Group B finely poised ahead of the final round of fixtures. Côte d’Ivoire moved to four points, while South Africa claimed its first point of the campaign to remain in contention for a place in the quarter-finals. INSIDE POLITICS