Banyana Banyana Fight Back to Draw with Ivory Coast at WAFCON

South Africa’s title defence is still breathing in Morocco – but only just.

Two goals down to Ivory Coast in Casablanca and staring at the brink of an early Women’s Africa Cup of Nations exit, Banyana Banyana dragged themselves back from the edge with a defiant second-half surge to force a 2-2 draw.

The response came from their biggest names. Thembi Kgatlana struck first to halve the deficit, igniting belief and dragging South Africa back into a contest that had looked lost. The pressure built, the clock ticked, and Ivory Coast retreated deeper with every wave of attack.

Then came Hildah Magaia.

Seconds before the final whistle, Magaia pounced to level the match, turning what could have been a fatal blow to South Africa’s campaign into a lifeline. From despair to delirium in a heartbeat, Banyana had their first point of the tournament and a pulse in Group B.

The table, though, tells a harsher story. South Africa sit on one point from two matches, three adrift of Ivory Coast. Tanzania, also on three points, can seal a quarterfinal place with victory over Burkina Faso in Casablanca later this evening, a result that would tighten the noose around Banyana’s hopes.

South Africa now walk a tightrope. Their final group match against Burkina Faso on Tuesday is non-negotiable: they must win, and then look over their shoulders, waiting to see if other results will be kind.

For a side that showed such heart to come back from two goals down, the question is simple: can that same fight carry them out of trouble and into the knockout rounds?