South Africa’s women’s team, Banyana Banyana, must convincingly beat Burkina Faso in their final Group B outing of the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to keep alive the dream of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Dr Desiree Ellis’s charges’ fate also depends on table-topping Ivory Coast overcoming gutsy Tanzania in the other group match. Both fixtures kick off simultaneously tomorrow at 22:00. Banyana Banyana and Burkina Faso will face off at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.

A draw would end Banyana Banyana’s journey in both the WAFCON and their prospects of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, and would benefit both Burkina Faso and Tanzania, who narrowly beat South Africa 2-1 in their opening fixture of the competition.

Banyana Banyana are rooted at the bottom with a single point they salvaged after a 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast on Friday. Ellis has praised her charges for their gallant fight that earned them a point in a match in which Thembi Kgatlana and second-half substitute Hildah Magaia each scored a brilliant goal.

While fighting to score important goals, it is critical that Banyana Banyana keep a clean sheet against the West African opponents, who have the potential to progress to the quarterfinals with a draw or win while hoping Ivory Coast win against Tanzania. Goal difference will become the decisive factor in Group B if South Africa and Tanzania both win their final group matches. This scenario would create a three-way tie at the top of the group table, forcing the tournament’s tiebreaker rules into full effect.

Head coach Dr Ellis has emphasised the importance of the team keeping things tight in defense and emulate the bravery shown towards the end of the 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast. “The players showed a lot of resilience, character and that gives us a little bit of hope and momentum going into the last game of the group stages. The way we ended the second half against Ivory Coast is how we should start the game against Burkina Faso,” said Dr Ellis.