AFCON
On her eagerly awaited return, Thembi Kgatlana delivered late-match magic to lift Banyana Banyana to a 1-0 win over DR Congo women and seal qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. With sheer composure, she pounced in stoppage time to clinch the aggregate victory and spark jubilant celebrations among teammates and supporters alike.
In a moment that will linger in the memory of South African football fans, Thembi Kgatlana returned to the national fold and marked the occasion with a clinical finish that sent Banyana Banyana through to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The forward, sidelined during the previous edition through injury, stepped onto the pitch at Dobsonville Stadium with purpose and delivered when it mattered most.
Throughout the match, the team under the stewardship of coach Desiree Ellis dominated possession and pressed hard, but found a disciplined DR Congo side stubborn in defence and sharp on the counter. As the tension mounted, it appeared the contest might slip away until Kgatlana rose to the occasion in added time, finding the loose ball inside the box and sending it home. The strike not only secured a 1-0 win on the night but cemented a 2-1 aggregate triumph.
That single moment encapsulated the spirit of the squad: resilient, determined and ever-ready to seize opportunity. Dlamini stood firm in goal as the visitors tested her twice, while the home side’s earlier disallowed goal added to the evening’s drama. But when the final whistle blew, the relief and the joy were unmistakable.
For Banyana Banyana, the path is now set. They march on to Morocco, ready to defend their title, buoyed by Kgatlana’s timely return and the collective resolve of the team. The country’s hopes are lifted, the mission clear, and the stage is set for the next chapter of their journey on the continent.
