After a rocky group stage, Banyana Banyana rely on resilience and experience as they prepare to face hosts Morocco in a high-stakes WAFCON quarter-final. Photo: Backpagepix
The challenges Banyana Banyana endured in the WAFCON group stage have made them stronger as a team, which is why midfielder Nonhlanhla Mthandi is convinced they can weather any storm moving forward.
Banyana progressed to the quarter-finals following an intense group campaign in Casablanca, where they fell to Tanzania, drew with Ivory Coast, and defeated Burkina Faso.
That mixed run of form left their qualification dependent on results elsewhere. Ivory Coast duly obliged in the final group fixture by beating the Twiga Stars, ensuring the Ivorians and South Africans finished first and second, respectively.
Banyana’s second-place finish sets up a quarter-final clash against hosts Morocco at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium on Saturday night (10 pm SAST). Given South Africa’s recent upper hand over the Atlas Lionesses – highlighted by their victory in the 2022 WAFCON final on Moroccan soil – expectations are high that lightning can strike twice.
