WAFCON 2026: South Africa beat Burkina Faso to reach quarter-finals

South Africa are through to the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Burkina Faso in Casablanca, sealed by Thembi Kgatlana’s first-half strike.

The result sends Banyana Banyana into a last-eight meeting with hosts Morocco, a repeat of the 2022 final that South Africa won 2-1.

It was not a polished display, but it delivered exactly what Desiree Ellis’ team needed. Kgatlana, who plays for Tigres UANL, struck in the 21st minute and that was enough to settle a tense contest. South Africa had entered the match under pressure after losing 2-1 to Tanzania and then battling back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Ivory Coast.

The win was their first of the tournament and came at the right time, lifting them into second place in Group B behind Côte d’Ivoire. Burkina Faso were left chasing the game after falling behind early, but South Africa stayed organized and protected their lead until the final whistle.

The quarterfinal against Morocco now carries extra weight, with a place in the semi-finals and a step closer to automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil on the line.