Reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions, South Africa, stormed into the knockout stages in emphatic fashion on Monday with a commanding 4–0 victory over Mali in their final Group C match.

Banyana Banyana wasted no time asserting their dominance at the Stade Moulay Hassan in Rabat. Just five minutes into the encounter, veteran defender Lebohang Ramalepe fired the South Africans in front with a precise right-footed strike into the top right corner.

Refiloe Jane doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with a moment of brilliance, curling a superb free kick beyond the reach of Malian goalkeeper Fatoumata Karentao to give South Africa a well-deserved two-goal cushion at halftime.

The defending champions maintained their momentum after the break, with Hildah Magaia making it 3–0 in the 61st minute. She latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Karabo Dhlamini and slotted home confidently with her left foot.

Substitute Ronnel Donnelly put the icing on the cake in the 79th minute, finishing coolly from close range after being set up by Nonhlanhla Mthandi.

Despite flashes of promise from the Malian side, including efforts from Saratou Traoré, Aïssata Traoré, and Fatou Dembele, they could not find a way past South Africa’s well-drilled backline and goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who was alert throughout and pulled off several crucial saves to preserve her clean sheet.

The comprehensive victory means South Africa top Group C with a perfect record and head into the quarterfinals brimming with confidence as they continue their quest to defend the title they won in 2022.

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Ghana and Tanzania will clash for the first time ever at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) when they meet in a decisive Group C encounter on Monday, July 15, at the Stade Municipal de Berkane (kick-off 20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT).

The match is a must-win for both sides, with a quarter-final ticket hanging in the balance. Ghana, three-time runners-up, are under pressure to salvage their 2024 campaign after a shaky start, while Tanzania are chasing history as they aim to reach the knockout phase for the first time.

Ghana Desperate to Avoid Early Exit

The Black Queens have endured a difficult tournament so far, losing 1-0 to defending champions South Africa and drawing 1-1 with Mali, despite taking the lead. This is the first time since 2014 that Ghana have failed to win any of their opening two matches, and they are now winless in their last four WAFCON fixtures (two draws, two losses).

Ghana must secure victory to advance to the quarter-finals, which would be their seventh appearance at that stage after successes in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2016. Failure to do so could see them eliminated in the group stage for a second consecutive tournament — a historic low for the once-dominant side.

Historically, Ghana have been strong in final group games, winning eight of their ten previous closing matches in the group phase. Their only defeat came against Equatorial Guinea in 2010, while their draw against Cameroon in 2018 cost them a place in the quarter-finals as hosts.

Notably, the Black Queens have never gone through a WAFCON tournament without registering at least one win — a streak now under threat.

Tanzania Eyeing First Win and Knockout Berth

Tanzania’s Twiga Stars, making only their second WAFCON appearance after debuting in 2010, earned their first-ever point in the competition with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against South Africa. They also made history by scoring first in a WAFCON game for the first time.

Despite being reduced to ten players following the red card to Elizabeth Chenge — the tournament’s first sending-off — Tanzania showed resilience and defensive improvement, having conceded just two goals in two matches, compared to four in their opening two games in 2010.

Tanzania have lost all four of their previous meetings with West African opposition, including defeats to Mali in 2010 and 2024, and a 3-0 loss to Nigeria in 2010. However, they now have a golden chance to rewrite their WAFCON story. A win over Ghana would not only be their first in tournament history, but also send them through to the quarter-finals — the first East African side to achieve the feat since Ethiopia in 2004.

All four of Tanzania’s WAFCON goals to date have come in the first half, with Opah Clement’s strike against South Africa standing out as her only shot on target.

High Stakes in Berkane

With both teams needing a win to stay alive in the competition, the stage is set for a tense and potentially historic showdown in Berkane. Ghana will be banking on experience and tradition to see them through, while Tanzania are hoping youthful exuberance and momentum will carry them into uncharted territory.

One team will progress. The other will go home.

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South Africa and Mali will go head-to-head for top spot in Group C at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) when they meet in Oudja on Monday night (kick-off: 20:00 local time / 19:00 GMT).

Both sides have already secured qualification to the quarterfinals, but the match will determine who finishes as group winners.

History favours South Africa, who have triumphed in both previous WAFCON encounters with Mali.

The Banyana Banyana defeated the West Africans 4-0 in a 2010 group stage clash, with Amanda Dlamini grabbing a hat-trick and Jermaine Seoposenwe netting the fourth.

In their second meeting, South Africa recorded a 2-0 win in the 2018 semi-finals, courtesy of goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Lebogang Ramalepe.

South Africa come into the tie with an impressive tournament record under head coach Desiree Ellis.

They are unbeaten in open play at WAFCON during her tenure—registering 10 wins and three draws—and are undefeated in their last nine group games (seven wins, two draws).

However, their 1-1 draw with Tanzania in their previous outing ended a seven-match WAFCON winning streak and marked the first time they failed to win a group match since a 2018 draw with Zambia.

It was also the first time under Ellis that they trailed at halftime in a WAFCON match.

A positive result against Mali will see South Africa complete the group stage unbeaten for the fifth time in their history (after 2000, 2002, 2018, and 2022), and underline their dominance in the competition, where they are making an 11th appearance in the knockout stage.

Mali, meanwhile, are enjoying their best-ever start to a WAFCON tournament.

They held Ghana to a 1-1 draw in their last match, coming from behind to snatch a crucial point. That result ended a run of 20 WAFCON games producing a winner for the Malians dating back to 2004.

With four points from their opening two matches, Mali have already set a new personal best for most group-stage points earned in a single tournament.

 Avoiding defeat against South Africa would see them finish the group phase unbeaten for the first time ever.

Mali have also scored in two consecutive group matches for the first time—a significant improvement from their previous scoring drought that dates back to their 2016 loss to Nigeria.

While South Africa carry a weight of history and pedigree, Mali’s resilience and newfound momentum suggest that Monday’s clash could be far more competitive than past encounters.

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