South Africa stunned hosts Morocco to win the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) for the first time in their history. South Africa previously lost in four previous finals – 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018 –before finally lifting the trophy. Hildah Magaia’s brace sealed Banyana Banyana’s long-awaited trophy in a 2-1 victory at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Catch live football predictions here!
“It feels amazing,” coach Desire Ellis told a news agency. “I’m an African champion now – and no one can take that away from us.” Ellis, who won CAF’s African Coach of the Year (Women) award, failed to win the trophy when she was a player 22 years ago and during her first attempt as a coach four years ago. Our soccer analysis and predictions are live now!
Magaia was named the Woman of the Match and finished as joint top scorer alongside Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak and Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade. Goalkeeper Andile Dlamini, who kept three clean sheets in the six games, won the Goalkeeper of the Year Award. “As a team, we have worked hard to achieve this and this means so much,” Dlamini said.
“It was a humbling experience, and an emotional one, when you look at the journey that we have traveled as Banyana Banyana,” captain Refiloe Jane said in a post-match interview. “To finally get to this point meant a lot for everyone. When the final whistle went out, I was crying. It was the most humbling and emotional experience.”
In the thrilling final, both teams were slow to deliver in the first half before Magaia opened the scoring in the 63rd minute to give South Africa their first ever lead in a WAFCON final. Magaia made it two eight minutes later. Morocco tried to find several chances to beat the crucial two-goal lead but they only settled for a consolation through Tottenham Hotspur’s Ayane.
“It’s disappointing that we couldn’t get the job done but when I get a chance to reflect, I’m going to realize what we’ve actually achieved as a team – it’s just incredible,” Ayane said after the match. “This is our first final and I don’t think it’s going to be the last. We put the pressure on for the last 15 minutes and if we had had an extra 5-10 minutes, I think we were getting another goal.”
The WAFCON title is South Africa’s only second continental title since their men’s team won the 1996 Nations Cup. South Africa women’s team will face world teams as they start their journey for next year’s Women’s World Cup as African champions, alongside Morocco, third-placed Zambia and nine-time champions Nigeria.
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