Banyana Banyana are one victory away from qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
South Africa secured their place in the last eight with a narrow 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in Casablanca on Tuesday night. The result saw them progress from Group B and set up a major quarter-final meeting with tournament hosts Morocco in Rabat on Saturday, 8 August.
Kick-off is scheduled for 22:00 South Africa time.
The decisive moment against Burkina Faso came in the 21st minute, when Thembi Kgatlana scored the only goal of the match. Her finish was enough to give South Africa the win and ensure they advanced to the knockout stage.
Ivory Coast also moved through to the quarter-finals after beating Tanzania 2-1 in the other Group B fixture.
South Africa’s next match carries significance beyond the immediate prize of a place in the semi-finals. The 2026 WAFCON is also being used as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Only the four semi-finalists will earn automatic qualification for the global tournament. As a result, Banyana Banyana need to win their meeting with Morocco to guarantee their place at the 2027 World Cup.
SAFA president Danny Jordaan congratulated the team after their progress but stressed the importance of completing the job in the quarter-finals.
“Well done Banyana Banyana. We are fully behind you and we are aware that one more victory will qualify us for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027,” said Jordaan.
The match against Morocco is expected to be South Africa’s toughest test of the tournament so far. Morocco will have the advantage of strong home support when the sides meet in Rabat, with a semi-final place and World Cup qualification both at stake.
The latest FIFA rankings show South Africa are 57th in the world and second among African nations. Morocco are ranked 64th globally and fourth on the continent.
That ranking gap means South Africa enter the contest above their hosts in the world standings, but Morocco’s home advantage will add another dimension to a fixture that has quickly become the defining match of Banyana Banyana’s campaign.
A place in the semi-finals would not only keep South Africa’s bid for the WAFCON title alive, but would also secure their return to the Women’s World Cup in Brazil in 2027. Both teams therefore face a high-pressure quarter-final, with the winner claiming one of Africa’s four automatic places at the global showpiece.
