Banyana face Nigeria in last World Cup chance

Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt

• Banyana face Nigeria on Thursday, with the winner advancing to a 10-team intercontinental World Cup play-off.

• South Africa missed automatic qualification after losing 2-1 to Morocco in the Wafcon quarterfinals.

Banyana Banyana have one last chance to keep their World Cup dream alive, but Nigeria stand in their way.

South Africa face the Super Falcons in Casablanca at 22:00 on Thursday after both teams failed to qualify automatically through the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The four losing Wafcon quarterfinalists have been given another chance.

Ivory Coast face Ghana at 19:00 before Banyana take on Nigeria.

The two winners will advance to a 10-team intercontinental play-off, where the final three places at the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil will be decided.

Coach Desiree Ellis admitted it was not the route Banyana wanted, News24 reported.

“We live to fight another day,” she said. “We have to lift ourselves since we have another game to try and qualify for the World Cup.”

Banyana reached this point after losing 2-1 to hosts Morocco in the quarterfinals.

Their tournament started badly with defeat to Tanzania, before they fought back for a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast and beat Burkina Faso 1-0.

Captain Refiloe Jane said the team had hoped to qualify at the first attempt.

“It’s a big disappointment to the team. But overall, it’s not over yet,” she said. “We need to refocus, prepare well and make sure that we give ourselves another chance.”

Nigeria have also struggled.

For the first time in 16 Wafcon tournaments, the 10-time champions failed to reach the semifinals.

Banyana have won three of their last six matches against Nigeria, drawn two and lost one.

But Nigeria have often beaten South Africa when major qualification or trophies were at stake.

Ellis said Banyana must now forget the Morocco disappointment.

“It’s the last one for us,” she said. “If we want to go to the World Cup, we have to put in the effort.”

Pictured above: Banyana Banyana players.

Image source: @Banyana_Banyana