The China Mail - South Africa's WAFCON hopes hang in the balance after dramatic draw

The Group B favourites are bottom of the table with just one point after two rounds in Moroccan commercial hub Casablanca. Ivory Coast have four points and Burkina Faso and Tanzania three each.

Former champions South Africa must beat Burkina Faso and hope Ivory Coast defeat Tanzania in the final group matches on Tuesday to survive.

Burkina Faso shrugged off conceding four goals against Ivory Coast last Monday to edge Tanzania 2-1 in the other match on Friday.

Before the two-yearly tournament kicked off last Sunday, South Africa were talking up chances of competing at back-to-back World Cup tournaments.

Brazil will host the 2027 edition and the four WAFCON semi-finalists automatically qualify for the 32-nation event.

The losing WAFCON quarter-finalists will get a second chance to reach the World Cup through play-offs, first in Morocco, then in an inter-continental competition.

South Africa made a disastrous debut in their group, conceding a late goal to lose 2-1 against Tanzania, a team 65 places lower than Banyana Banyana (Girls Girls) in the world rankings.

An anticipated revival against the Ivorians did not materialise in the first half and two goals from clinical 18-year-old Grace Sery gave the west Africans a 2-0 half-time lead.

- Last-gasp equaliser -

Realising their World Cup dream was on the verge of collapse, South Africa improved dramatically in the second half and Thembi Kgatlana pulled one goal back on 71 minutes.

But all seemed lost for South Africa when substitute Hildah Magaia had an added-time goal disallowed for offside.

However, Magaia, who helped South Africa reach the last 16 at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, had the last laugh in the ninth minute of added time.

Another substitute, Ronnel Donnelly, nodded the ball into the goalmouth and unmarked Magaia beat goalkeeper Aramatou Diakite at her near post with a rising shot.

Later, Burkina Faso took advantage of a Tanzanian being red carded 10 minutes after half-time to win 2-1 through an 80th-minute goal from captain Balkissa Sawadogo.

Naomi Kabre put the Burkinabe ahead on 43 minutes with a delicate lob over goalkeeper Najiat Idrisa after Tanzania failed to clear a cross.

Hasnath Ubamba was sent off for raking the right foot of goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou, but Tanzania recovered to equalise after 62 minutes.

Dabilgou tipped a Donisia Minja free-kick on to the post and Aisha Mnunka, reacting quickest to the rebound, poked the ball into the net.

Burkina Faso regained the lead when Sawadogo side-footed a cross past Idrissa. The goal gave the Lady Stallions a first WAFCON victory at the fifth attempt spanning two tournaments.

On Saturday, defending champions Nigeria hope to put a stunning defeat by Malawi behind them when they tackle in-form Group C pacesetters Zambia.

L.Johnson--ThChM