29 October 2025 – Sasol Banyana Banyana have booked their place in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after beating DR Congo 1-0 in a second leg qualifier (2-1 on aggregate) played at the Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday night.
The South African senior women’s national team officially qualified for the continental tournament after a dramatic 1–0 victory courtesy of a lone strike from Thembi Kgatlana.
After drawing 1–1 in Kinshasa during the first leg last week, Banyana Banyana entered the return fixture with a crucial away-goal advantage. The task was clear – protect their defensive line and avoid conceding, while looking for an insurance goal to seal qualification. That decisive moment arrived in the final minute of the game when Kgatlana delivered the winner to secure South Africa’s place at WAFCON 2026, which will take place in March next year in Morocco.
The home side were dominant in the first half, controlling possession and creating multiple scoring opportunities, while the second half saw DR Congo grow in confidence and threaten on the counter. Despite the mounting pressure, the home side held firm until Kgatlana’s strike confirmed the result. Acting coach Thinasonke Mbuli praised her team’s composure and resilience under pressure.
“I mentioned yesterday that we had to win and yes, we were frustrated towards the end of the game because it was 0-0 and they were coming at us. I give credit to the defenders for absorbing the pressure,” she said.
Mbuli reflected on the team’s preparations in the coming months and emphasized the importance of continued match fitness during the domestic off-season.
“We have a window that’s coming up now in November, which is the last FIFA window for the year. We’re hoping we can get a friendly match because the tricky part for us now is that WAFCON is in March and our league is off during that time.
“Our players in December will be off, and by the beginning of March, WAFCON kicks off. We’re going to have to find a balance between players going off-season and remaining active.”
Lebohang Ramalepe was named Queen of the Match for her outstanding defensive display and leadership at the back. DR Congo coach Lukamba Mbayo Omer acknowledged South Africa’s quality while expressing pride in his side’s performance.
“In preparations, we understood the style of South African football and Banyana Banyana, but not necessarily the individual players. We understood how the team plays as a collective, but we didn’t pick up on each individual player,” he said. SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan congratulated the team after their qualification.
South African Football: Clubs in South Africa are often supported by passionate fan bases.
Dr. Cocktail
Shahid Afridi used Sachin Tendulkar\’s bat to hit the fastest ever ODI century – Shahid Afridi was flown in to play for the Pakistan team from West Indies to Nairobi in 1996 and didn\’t have a proper bat. That\’s when Waqar Younis gave \’Young Afridi\’ Sachin Tendulkar’s bat. Afridi hit 11 sixes and six boundaries with the bat and scored a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka which was the then fastest ODI century. The record, broken later by Corey Anderson (36 balls), now belongs to South Africa\’s AB de Villiers (31 balls).
Landfill Max
The cricket bat has been a source of controversy in cricket. In 1771, one player attempted to breach the rules. Thomas White, an English cricketer, took his turn with a bat that was as wide as the wickets in the field. This ensured better defense and gave Thomas an unfair advantage. A protest by the opposing team ensued which later led to a change in cricket laws in 1774, setting the bat width to no more than 4.25 inches.