South Africa Beat Morocco To Clinch First WAFCON Title
- Poor Atlas Lionesses Lose 1-2 To Banyana Banyana
Hildah Magaia emerged the hero for South Africa as they were crowned 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions after securing a 2-1 win over Morocco at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Saturday night.
This is the South Africans’ first continental crown after losing in five previous finals. The sixth-time lucky Bayana Bayana were losing finalists in 1995, 2000, 2008, 2012, and 2018. Their records also include a third place finish in 2006 and 2010 as well as fourth place finishers in 2002, 2014, and 2016.
With this victory, the South Africans become only the third country in the tournament’s history to caress the continental trophy after eleven times winners, Super Falcons of Nigeria (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) and two times champions, Equatorial Guinea (2008, 2012) beating South African on both occasions.
Magaia’s second-half brace inspired Banyana Banyana to the narrow hard-fought victory over the tournament hosts who grabbed what proved to be a consolation goal through Rosella Ayane.
Magaia’s brace also earned her the tournament’s Golden Boot award which she shared with 2022 WAFCON Player of the Tournament, Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco and Nigerian star Rasheedat Ajibade as the three players netted three goals in the continental competition.
This was a battle between two teams who remained undefeated in the tournament to this point, with Banyana having reached the final after edging out their Southern African rivals Zambia 1-0 in a semi-final clash on Monday.
Morocco, who were making the first appearance in the WAFCON final, had caused an upset when they defeated reigning African champions Nigeria 5-4 on penalties on Monday after a 1-1 draw in another semi-final clash.
While recently crowned CAF African Women’s Coach of the Year Desiree Ellis recalled Nomvela Kgoalo to the starting line-up, and the 26-year-old operated in Banyana’s midfield alongside Refiloe Jane and Linda Motlhalo, her Moroccan counterpart, Reynald Pedros made one change to the team which faced Nigeria as Imane Saoud made her second start of the tournament – operating as one of the front three.
The two teams cancelled each other out in the opening 20 minutes of the eagerly anticipated encounter with most of the ball being played in the middle of the park with neither side being able to create clear-cut chances.
Both goalkeepers were not seriously tested with the lively Jane battling with Lionesses of Atlas’ influential playmaker Sanaa Mssoudy for control of the midfield.
The match began to open up just after the half-hour mark and the first real chance of the game fell for Magaia who was sent through on goal by Jermaine Seoposenwe’s incisive pass, but the former was denied by goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The hosts did threaten when Fatima Tagnaout set up Ayane who fired wide of the target from inside the box and the score was 0-0 at half-time. However, Banyana looked dangerous on the counter with the Lionesses of Atlas attacking in numbers after the restart with Pedros’ side looking to break the deadlock.
Unfortunately, the hosts were left vulnerable at the back and Seoposenwe ran onto a long ball from Jane, before cutting inside and setting up Magaia who made no mistake – beating Er-Rmichi with a low shot from inside the box to give South Africa the lead in the 63rd minute.
Morocco responded by surging forward in numbers – leaving space behind their defence and they were punished by Banyana again. This time Karabo Dhlamini delivered a cross which was slightly deflected, but the ball fell kindly for Magaia who fired past Er-Rmichi from close range to make it 2-0 to South Africa in the 72nd minute with the Lionesses of Atlas defence exposed.
Tagnaout, who had been quiet in the second half, burst into life in the closing stages of the game and the left-footed player set up Ayane whose first-time shot beat eventual 2022 Wafcon Goalkeeper of the Tournament Andile Dlamini to make it 2-1 – setting up a nervy finish for Banyana with 10 minutes left.
However, the South Africans were able to contain their hosts in the dying minutes of the game and ultimately, secured their first-ever continental crown on away soil. – With Goal.com reports
