WAFCON 2026: Banyana Banyana Fight Back Twice to Hold Ivory Coast

South Africa produced a spirited comeback to rescue a 2-2 draw against Côte d’Ivoire in a pulsating Group B encounter at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 on Friday.

Banyana Banyana twice came from behind at the Moulay Rachid Stadium to claim a crucial point, keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive after suffering defeat in their tournament opener.

Côte d’Ivoire, buoyed by their emphatic 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso in their opening match, made a confident start and deservedly took the lead before South Africa responded with an equaliser to send the teams into the break level.

The Ivorians restored their advantage after the restart and appeared on course for a second consecutive victory. However, South Africa refused to surrender and mounted sustained pressure in the closing stages before finding a dramatic late equaliser to complete an impressive fightback.

The result underlined the resilience of the reigning African champions, who displayed character and determination to recover from behind on two occasions in a match that could prove pivotal in the race for a place in the quarter-finals.

For Côte d’Ivoire, the draw will feel like two points dropped after twice holding the lead, while South Africa will take confidence from a performance that showcased their fighting spirit under pressure.

With the Group B standings finely balanced, both teams remain firmly in contention heading into the final round of fixtures, where qualification for the knockout stage will be decided.

South Africa will now look to build on their momentum in their decisive final group match, while Côte d’Ivoire will aim to convert another positive performance into the victory needed to secure progression.

The TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 continues to provide compelling football, with every point becoming increasingly significant as the battle for continental glory and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup intensifies.