Banyana secure World Cup play-off spot

Rugby

Podcasts & Videos

The Club House

Win
–>

Photo by Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images

Home

Psl

SA National Teams

Banyana secure World Cup play-off spot

Aug 14, 2026 – 12:12 am
By Kickoff writer

Banyana Banyana have qualified for the inter-confederation 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-offs after defeating Nigeria 2-1 on Thursday night.

Fixture: South Africa v NigeriaScore: 2-1Goalscorers: Kgatlana (56′), Jane (77′) / Uchiebe (90+3′)

Banyana missed the ticket to an automatic spot for next year’s FIFA World Cup having gone down to the host Morocco in the last eight, but had a second shot towards advancing although first had to surpass a familiar foe in the defending African champions.

It was not an easy start for the 2022 champions, but they almost stol a march courtesy of a long-range strike by Linda Motlhalo from a ball across the midfield though it went over goal.

The Super Falcons looked stronger in the closing spells of the first half with sustained possession and the movements between the lines of Jennifer Echegini and Michelle Alozie bothered the South Africans a great deal.

Motlhalo conjured up another shot from outside the area and towards the top corner right on the cusp of halftime, but the tough-tackling midfielder once again gave Chiamaka Nnadozie no worries.

Banyana upped the ante ten minutes into the second half when a low ball down the middle released Hildah Magaia, who played a cutback into the box for Thembi Kgatlana to fire into the net.

Nigeria came in their own in the latter exchanges and almost doubled their lead with a firm header in the box by Alozie following a cross, but it was met expertly by the shot-stopper in Kaylin Swart.

Banyana pulled further clear though in the closing ten minutes when the Super Falcons failed to clear their lines from a corner-kick and Refiloe Jane capitalised to double their lead through a low deflected effort.

The Super Falcons were given a lifeline in the dying minutes when a goal-bound by Alozie collided with the hands of Jane, who conceded a penalty after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review and was dismissed as Christy Ucheibe executed the spot-kick.

However, the late drama didn’t inspire the Super Falcons to stage a comeback as Banyana held on for the win and secured their place as one of the six teams to compete in the play-offs later this year.

South Africa (CAF)Ghana (CAF)Uzbekistan (Asia)Chinese Taipei (Asia)