WeeklySA_AdminCOMEBACK: South Africa’s recovery from two goals down to secure draw with Côte d’Ivoire leaves the defending champions needing a victory over Burkina Faso to keep their WAFCON title defence on course…
By Own Correspondent
KCASABLANCA – Defending champions Banyana Banyana will head into a do-or-die final Group B showdown against Burkina Faso with their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final hopes still alive after producing a stirring second-half comeback to draw 2-2 with Côte d’Ivoire on Friday night.
Two goals down at the break and facing the prospect of an early exit, Desiree Ellis’ side responded with the character that carried them to the continental title in 2022. Goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia rescued a valuable point that keeps South Africa firmly in the race for a place in the knockout stages.
Côte d’Ivoire made the sharper start and nearly 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. A swift counter-attack sliced open the South African defence before the teenager calmly slotted past Kaylyn Swart.
South Africa looked for an immediate response and Bongeka Gamede headed over the crossbar in the 20th minute.
The Ivorians doubled their advantage before half-time when Sery completed her brace in almost identical fashion. N’sira Ouedraogo’s perfectly weighted lofted pass sent the teenager racing through before she confidently beat Swart to silence the South African bench.
Whatever Ellis said during the interval had the desired effect.
Banyana emerged with greater urgency, dominated possession and began pinning Côte d’Ivoire inside their own half.
Their persistence paid off in the 71st minute when captain Refiloe Jane released Kgatlana, who cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable strike beyond goalkeeper Aramatou Diakite.
With renewed belief, South Africa poured forward in search of an equaliser.
That moment arrived deep into stoppage time when substitute Ronnel Donnelly nodded the ball into the path of Hildah Magaia, who kept her composure to fire home and complete a remarkable comeback.
The point leaves Group B delicately balanced ahead of the final round. Côte d’Ivoire remained well placed on four points, while South Africa moved onto their first point of the campaign after the opening defeat to Tanzania.
Banyana now know there is little margin for error when they face Burkina Faso in their final group match on Tuesday, with victory likely to be essential if they are to secure one of the quarter-final places, either automatically or among the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Elsewhere, Tanzania have put themselves in pole position after upsetting the defending champions in the opening round, making the final Group B fixtures decisive. South Africa will meet Burkina Faso, while Côte d’Ivoire take on Tanzania in a simultaneous encounter that will determine the group’s final standings.
Sunday’s WAFCON action (August 2) also promises plenty of intrigue, with Ghana facing Cameroon in a key Group C encounter before Mali take on Cape Verde later in the evening. Both matches could have a significant bearing on the race for the knockout stages as the expanded 16-team tournament gathers momentum. – Additional reporting by CAFonline
