2022 WAFCON: South Africa hit by Thembi Kgatlana Blow

By Emmanuel Oladele - The Banyana Banyana of South Africa have been hit by Thembi Kgatlana blow following the injury she sustained in the clash against Botswana on Sunday and has been ruled out for the rest of the 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations.

According to Banyana Banyana Team Doctor Rodney Mokoka, the current Africa Player of the Year had a complete rupture of her left achilles tendon on Sunday at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. "Thembi suffered a complete rupture of her left achilles tendon as confirmed by the MRI scan this morning. Unfortunately, she will be out for the whole WAFCON 2022 tournament. She's due to undergo an operation back in South Africa," Makoka explained.

The 26-year-old who just joined Racing Louisville in the NWSL, USA is expected to be out of action for 6 months.

South Africa will be without the 2018 WAFCON top goalscorer when they face Tunisia in the quarter-final on Thursday. Thembi was instrumental to South Africa group stage feat, scoring a goal in South Africa 3-1 win over Burundi.