Banyana Banyana were stunned 2-1 by Tanzania in their opening match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Group B in Casablanca on Monday.
It was the Twiga Stars who drew blood first through Diana Msewa despite Banyana having majority possession but wasting a couple of goal scoring opportunities. Meanwhile Bambina Mbane levelled in injury-time of the opening half but Hasnath Ubamba netted the winner late in the second half.
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There were two early chances for South Africa to take the lead in the opening 10 minutes through Thembi Kgatlana whose attempt was not threatening for the Tanzania goalie and Noxolo Cesane from a Kgatlana pass which was deflected for a corner kick. Cesane missed another chance from Kgatlana again, let down by her final touch.
Tanzania took the game to Banyana in the 14th minute, with Andile Dlamini saving Clement Tukumbuke’s tame shot. There was a nervy moment when Banyana defence were caught in sixes and sevens, leaving Dlamini to save the ball from the goal mouth. Karabo Dhlamni tested Abass Idrisa from range but only forced the keeper to make a super save in the 17th minute.
11 minutes later Tanzania benefitted from Mswesa’s solo run leading to the first goal of the game. Banyana wanted to urgently response with the keeper denying Robyn Moodaly-Salgado who was starting her first match in national colours since 2023 and also Kgatlana’s rebound.
But Banyana’s persistence was rewarded in injury-time of the half as they won a corner that Dhlamini sent into the box where it found Mbane’s head and she equalised.
Nthabiseng Majiya replaced Moodaly-Salgado at the start of the second half and they almost found the lead through Refiloe Jane.
Mbane fouled Tikumbeke two minutes before the hour mark and gave away a set-piece on the edge of the box. Ubamba stepped up and whipped the ball but was denied by Dlamini who leaped to punch the short away. Dlamini was called again to make a save denying Donisia Minja from a set-piece in the 64th minute, while Majiya also helped clear a dangerous follow-on corner.
Majiya was guilty of missing a golden opportunity to score a second goal for Banyana in the 70th minute shooting wide instead of tapping in home from inside the five-yard box. The last minutes of the game were characterised by near misses by the 2022 African champions and they lived to regret as Ubamba broke their hearts scoring the winner for the East African side after another brilliant solo run in the last five minutes of the game.
Banyana will face Ivory Cost in the second group match on Friday at 19:00 and will need a win to keep their hopes of progressing alive.
Banyana starting XI: Dlamini, Ramalepe, Dhlamini, Mbane, Gamede, Moodaly-Salgado, Jane, Cesane, Magaia, Motlhalo, Kgatlana
Tanzania starting XI: Idrisa, Katunzi, Minja, Tukumbuke, Mnuka, Msewa, Mlangwa, Singano, Marwa, Lunyamila, Mwamakamba