Diana Msewa gave the Twiga Stars the lead in the 37th minute against the run of play. Bambanani Mbane equalised deep in first-half stoppage time for Banyana Banyana, but substitute Hasnath Ubamba struck in the 87th minute to secure a historic victory for Tanzania — their first-ever win at the WAFCON finals.
Match Summary
South Africa dominated possession (around 63 per cent) and created far more chances, registering 24 shot attempts to Tanzania’s 10. Despite the territorial advantage, Desiree Ellis’s side struggled to convert their superiority into a lead.
Msewa’s opener arrived on a swift counter-attack. South Africa responded just before the interval when defender Bambanani Mbane found the net in the second minute of added time to restore parity.
The second half remained tight until Ubamba, introduced from the bench, delivered the decisive blow three minutes from time. South Africa pushed forward in search of a late equaliser but could not break down a resolute Tanzanian defence.
Key Notes
- Midfielder Linda Motlhalo marked her 100th international appearance for South Africa, becoming only the 13th player to reach that milestone for Banyana Banyana.
- Tanzania, appearing at their third WAFCON finals, had previously failed to win a match at the tournament (three defeats in 2010 and a draw against South Africa in 2014).
- The result leaves South Africa with work to do in Group B, which also includes Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso. The top two teams will advance to the quarter-finals.
South Africa will look to bounce back when they face Côte d’Ivoire later in the group stage, while Tanzania will aim to build on this landmark result.