Banyana Banyana Stunned by Tanzania in WAFCON Opener Johannesburg, South Africa — South Africa’s Banyana Banyana faced a stunning setback in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group B opener, succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Tanzania in Casablanca, Morocco.
The loss marks a significant upset for the defending champions, who were widely expected to dominate the tournament.
The match began with Tanzania’s Diana Msewa scoring the opening goal in the 38th minute.
Banyana Banyana responded in the first — half added time with Bambanani Mbane’s equalizer.
However, the momentum did not shift in favor of the South African side, as Tanzania secured the win with a late goal from substitute Hasnath Ubamba in the 89th minute. Despite dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities, Banyana Banyana failed to capitalize on their advantage.
News24 reported that the team’s inability to convert their chances into goals was a major factor in the upset.
TimesLive. Co.
Za highlighted the fact that Banyana Banyana’s coach, Desiree Ellis, believed her team probably had three chances to one, but they were unable to turn that dominance into more goals.
The defeat comes as a blow to Banyana Banyana’s aspirations of defending their title and advancing to the knockout stages of the tournament.
The team, which had won the WAFCON in 2022 and finished fourth in the previous edition in 2024, now faces an uphill battle to bounce back against their next opponents in Group B.
As the tournament progresses, The defeat against Tanzania has certainly raised questions about the team’s form and strategy, and it will be interesting to see how they respond in their subsequent matches. For now, the focus shifts to their next game, where they will look to regain momentum and secure a spot in the knockout stages.
The team’s ability to bounce back from this early setback will be a key factor in determining their success in the tournament.
Sources: News24, TimesLive. Co.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
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