South Africa's WAFCON Hopes Hang in Balance Against Burkina Faso
South Africa's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) hopes hang in the balance against Burkina Faso, who need a point to advance to the knockout stages. The Bafana Bafana women's team must win and hope Cote d'Ivoire beat or draw with Tanzania.
Burkina Faso head coach Pascal Sawadogo urged his players to seize their chance to make footballing history by eliminating 2022 champions South Africa and qualifying for the knockout stages of the WAFCON for the first time.
What happened?
Burkina Faso go into Tuesday night's game in Group B against South Africa knowing that a point will send them into the last eight, should pool pacesetters Cote d'Ivoire beat or draw with third-placed Tanzania. South Africa need to win against Burkina Faso and hope that the Ivorians overcome Tanzania.
Why it matters for South Africa
Elimination after the group stages would constitute a spectacular failure for South Africa. Squads from the country have reached the semi-finals at the last nine competitions, stretching back to 2004.
What comes next?
The Bafana Bafana women's team must rise to the occasion and get a result against Burkina Faso. The rest is out of their hands, but they have shown that they're able to rise to the occasion.
South Africa's head coach Desiree Ellis steered the side to their first Cup of Nations title in Morocco in 2022. They came fourth in 2024.
Additional context
The WAFCON final will take place on 16 August. The four teams who reach the semi-finals also claim a berth at the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, while the four losing teams will feature in a play-off for two spots at an inter-continental qualifier.
