Banyana Banyana beat Nigeria to keep Brazil 2027 hopes alive

Banyana Banyana revived their hopes of reaching next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil with a 2-1 victory over old rivals Nigeria in Casablanca on Thursday.

The win in the World Cup play-off at Stade Moulay Rachid secured South Africa one of the two Confederation of African Football (CAF) places in the intercontinental play-offs. However, Banyana still face a lengthy and complicated route if they are to qualify for Brazil 2027.

The play-offs will be staged over two rounds. The first will take place in November and December, when six teams will compete for two places. The line-up will include two sides from Africa, two from Asia, one from Oceania and one from South America.

Those two winners will return for the second phase in February next year, where they will be joined by four teams who have received byes. The four sides entering at that stage will comprise two from Concacaf, one from Europe and one from South America, with three final World Cup places available.

South Africa had to see out the closing stages with 10 players after captain Refiloe Jane was sent off two minutes into stoppage time. The midfielder, making her 155th appearance for the national team, was dismissed following a handball in the penalty area after a VAR review.

Christy Ucheibe converted the resulting penalty in the 93rd minute, reducing the deficit after Thembi Kgatlana and Jane had given Banyana a two-goal lead.

Kgatlana opened the scoring in the 56th minute, before Jane struck in the 77th to put South Africa in control.

The atmosphere before kick-off appeared to favour Nigeria. During the warm-ups, the stadium’s music selector played Afrobeats at full volume, a genre closely associated with the West African side and a direct rival to South Africa’s Amapiano.

There was no visible support for Banyana in the stands, while Nigeria had a strong following who cheered whenever the Super Falcons had possession and jeered South Africa. Supporters also whistled at the officials when decisions went against Nigeria.

The home-style backing for their opponents included another familiar feature of South African football culture, as Nigerian fans repeatedly sounded vuvuzelas.

Despite the one-sided support, Banyana produced one of their strongest first-half performances of the tournament. South Africa had been eliminated by the hosts in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but showed no sign of being intimidated by Nigeria.

After struggling earlier in the competition to play their usual passing game in tight areas, Banyana moved the ball with greater fluency and created several promising attacking sequences. They lacked the composure required in the final third, however, and could not find a goal before the interval. Their opportunities were limited largely to half-chances, while Amogelang Motau and Jane controlled the midfield battles and allowed South Africa to dictate the match.

Nigeria returned from half-time with greater urgency and intensity. Jennifer Echegini had the first clear opportunity of the second half, but hesitated inside the penalty area and allowed South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart to take the ball from her feet.

The Super Falcons continued to apply pressure, with the Banyana defence, particularly Bambanani Mbane, blocking several efforts in quick succession.

But Nigeria’s spell of dominance produced no goal. Instead, South Africa broke the deadlock when Ronnel Donnelley recovered possession near the centre circle and released Hildah Magaia. Her precise cutback found Kgatlana, who finished to score her 37th goal for South Africa.

Swart then made an outstanding save in the 75th minute to keep out Uchenna Kanu’s header, which appeared certain to find the net.

South Africa extended their advantage two minutes later. Karabo Dhlamini delivered a dangerous corner, and Jane’s low effort took a deflection off Ucheibe before beating Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.

Nigeria were handed a late route back into the game when Jane was penalised for handball, but Ucheibe’s spot-kick was the final goal of the contest. Banyana held on to secure the result and a place in the intercontinental play-offs.