South Africa women national team qualified for the final stage of the 2022 women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-0 victory against Zambia in Casablanca, Morocco at the Mohammed V stadium today.
A foul play on South Africa’s Jermaine Seoposenwe by Martha Tembo at the edge of the penalty area in additional time saw the copper queens veer off the road to the final despite a dominant performance throughout the 90 minutes.
The Bruce Mwape charges however steer home with their chins held up having qualified for their prime women’s world cup ever and a record performance, losing only one game, drawing two and winning two after today in the tournament.
Zambia qualified for the semi finals off a win against Senegal in penalties while south Africa beat Tunisia 1-0 to reach the same stage.
Goal keeper Hazel Nali scored Zambia’s winning penalty at the quarter finals but the Fatih Vatan goalie was unwell for today’s match, making way for Catherine Musonda as the day’s keeper.
Banyana coach Desiree Ellis will have the VAR to be grateful to after her girls failed to make sense out of the 90 minutes of playtime and capitalized on a controversial referee call to fluke the finals.
The first stanza ended in a goalless draw with Zambia owning the biggest share of threats on the opponent’s goal.
South Africa’s defense was penetrated on countless tries by the Copper Queens in the first half, only Zambia to tally five shots on target, against one.
Woman of the match Grace Chanda and Siomala Mapepa proved a troublesome combination but failed to injure their Cosafa regionmates in the derby.
South Africa now wait to play the final against Morocco while Zambia will play defending champions Nigeria in the 3/4th play off final.
South Africa has been to the wafcon finals five times but has not won any and will be making their second consecutive appearance at the women’s world cup while Zambia heads out for their debut at the international tournament 2023 in Australia and New Zealand.
