South Africa staged a dramatic second-half comeback to hold Ivory Coast to a 2-2 draw in their second Group B match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, earning a crucial point to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.
Ivory Coast looked set for victory after Grace Sery struck twice in the opening half, scoring in the 18th and 36th minutes to hand her side a commanding 2-0 advantage over the defending champions.
Banyana Banyana, however, mounted an impressive response after the restart. Thembi Kgatlana reduced the deficit in the 71st minute before substitute Hildah Magaia rescued a point with a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.
Attention now turns to Friday night’s other Group B fixture, where Burkina Faso will take on Tanzania.
The top two teams in the group will qualify for the quarter-finals, with head-to-head record serving as the first tiebreaker, followed by goal difference if necessary.
Following the draw, Ivory Coast sit on four points from two matches with a superior goal difference of +3. Tanzania, who won their opening game, have three points and a +1 goal difference, while South Africa have opened their account with one point and a goal difference of -1.
The four teams that reach the WAFCON semi-finals will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Meanwhile, two of the losing quarter-finalists will still have a chance to qualify through the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.
