South Africa’s Banyana Banyana have been knocked out of the Ladies’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 2-1 defeat to hosts Morocco within the quarter-finals on Saturday night.
Sakina Ouzraoui and Hanan Ait El Haj scored for Morocco, whereas Thembi Kgatlana pulled one again for South Africa.
The match was a repeat of the 2022 WAFCON last, with either side additionally combating for a spot at subsequent 12 months’s FIFA Ladies’s World Cup in Brazil.
Morocco began the brighter of the 2 groups, with Sanaa Mssoudy heading simply vast after assembly a cross from the suitable.
South Africa responded as Kgatlana created house exterior the field, however her effort went narrowly over the goal.
The hosts finally took the lead within the thirty first minute. Ouzraoui met a harmful cross from the suitable and lifted the ball over South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart to make it 1-0.
Morocco doubled their benefit 5 minutes into the second half after Noxolo Cesane was penalised for a foul contained in the field. A penalty was awarded, and Ait El Haj calmly transformed to place the hosts 2-0 forward.
Banyana Banyana coach Desiree Ellis responded by making a change, bringing on Amogelang Motau for Robyn Moodaly-Salgado as South Africa looked for a method again into the sport.
The guests lowered the deficit within the 67th minute by Kgatlana. The ahead beat the offside entice and completed from a good angle, with the purpose awarded after a VAR evaluate.
Motau virtually equalised moments later, however Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi produced a wonderful save to maintain her facet in entrance.
South Africa pushed ahead within the closing phases and dedicated extra gamers to assault, however Morocco held agency to safe a 2-1 victory.
The defeat ends Banyana Banyana’s hopes of defending their WAFCON title, whereas Morocco advance to the semi-finals and safe their place on the 2027 FIFA Ladies’s World Cup.
Within the semifinals, Morocco will face the winner of Sunday’s quarterfinals between Nigeria and Cameroon .
