Morocco secured their place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup after beating South Africa 2-1 in their WAFCON quarter final in Rabat on Saturday.
Sakina Ouzraoui and Hanane Aït El Haj scored for the hosts. The victory also gave Morocco revenge for their 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the 2022 continental final.
Thembi Kgatlana pulled one back with 23 minutes remaining. However, South Africa could not find another goal to force extra time.
Morocco will now return to the Women’s World Cup after making their debut at the global tournament in 2023. South Africa, meanwhile, must use the African play off route to keep their hopes of reaching Brazil alive.
Banyana Banyana will face the loser of Sunday’s quarter final between Cameroon and Nigeria on Thursday. The winner of that match will earn a place in FIFA’s inter confederation play offs, where three World Cup places remain available.
Morocco will also continue their WAFCON title bid. The Atlas Lionesses will face the winner of Cameroon against Nigeria in the semi finals.
The hosts deserved the victory after producing the better performance for long periods. However, they finally conceded their first goal of the tournament.
Morocco take control before surviving late pressure
South Africa struggled to find their best form again. Banyana Banyana had looked below their usual level throughout the tournament and once more found themselves second best.
Morocco created the first major breakthrough in the 31st minute.
El Haj delivered a deep cross into the area, and Ouzraoui met it perfectly. She volleyed the ball over goalkeeper Kaylin Swart and into the net to give Morocco a 1-0 lead.
The hosts nearly doubled their advantage before half time.
Ghizlane Chebbak noticed Swart off her line and attempted to lift the ball into the empty net. However, her effort sailed over the crossbar.
Morocco continued to press after the restart and soon earned a penalty.
Noxolo Cesane brought down Chebbak inside the area, prompting the referee to point to the spot.
El Haj stepped up and confidently sent her penalty into the corner to make it 2-0.
South Africa finally found a response through Kgatlana.
The forward latched onto a pass from Karabo Dhlamini and beat the offside trap. She then fired a low finish past the goalkeeper to reduce the deficit.
The goal gave South Africa renewed belief.
Banyana Banyana controlled much of the possession during the closing stages and pushed forward in search of an equaliser.
Morocco, however, defended their advantage and prevented South Africa from creating the decisive chance they needed.
The result sends Morocco into the WAFCON semi finals and keeps their dream of winning a first continental title alive on home soil.
For South Africa, the defeat ends their direct route to the World Cup but not their qualification hopes.
The four WAFCON quarter final losers will enter an additional African play off route for World Cup qualification. Winners of those regional classification matches will then advance to the global FIFA Play Off Tournament, where they will compete for the remaining World Cup places.
South Africa therefore still have a path to Brazil in 2027, but their route has become significantly more difficult.
Morocco, meanwhile, can now focus fully on the semi finals as they continue their pursuit of WAFCON glory.
