South Africa will take on Senegal in the quarter-finals of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Saturday evening, as the reigning champions prepare to face one of the tournament’s surprise contenders.
The knockout fixture is scheduled to be held at the Stade d’Honneur in Oujda, Morocco, with kick-off set for 19:00 GMT. It will be a high-stakes encounter pitting South Africa’s experienced squad, known as Banyana Banyana, against Senegal’s emerging side, the Lionesses of Teranga, who have reached this stage as one of the best third-placed teams from the group phase.
Banyana Banyana head into the quarter-finals as strong favourites, having topped their group with an unbeaten record. They opened their campaign with a controlled 2-0 win over Ghana, followed by a 1-1 draw with Tanzania, before producing a commanding 4-0 victory over Mali in their final group fixture.
The defending champions have looked balanced in all areas of the pitch, combining defensive solidity with fluid attacking transitions.
Senegal’s path to the quarter-finals has been more turbulent. Despite suffering two defeats in the group stage — a narrow 3-2 loss to Zambia and a 1-0 defeat to host nation Morocco — they secured progression with a resounding 4-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo. That result proved just enough to see them through as one of the two highest-ranked third-placed teams.
This quarter-final will also serve as a rematch of the two sides’ recent friendly series in Dakar last June. On that occasion, South Africa emerged the more convincing team, earning a draw in the first match and a 2-0 win in the second.
Those results will give Desiree Ellis’s team a psychological edge, though Senegal have shown they are capable of rising to the occasion when it matters.
South Africa will rely on the depth and experience of their squad as they seek to defend the title they won in 2022. The team’s attacking options have been in fine form, as evidenced by their seven goals in the group stage, while their defence has conceded just once across three matches.
Senegal, meanwhile, will look to play with the freedom of underdogs, knowing that much of the pressure lies on their opponents. Coach Mame Moussa Cissé’s side have already exceeded many expectations by reaching the last eight, and they will be aiming to cause one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by eliminating the holders.
While South Africa’s credentials are undisputed, knockout football often brings unpredictable outcomes. The Lionesses of Teranga will hope to frustrate their more experienced rivals and capitalise on any opportunity that comes their way.
Saturday’s fixture promises to be an intriguing clash of styles and ambition — one between a team seeking to continue its dominance on the continental stage and another aiming to announce its arrival as a growing force in African women’s football.
