Nigeria to miss Women’s World Cup after South Africa and Ghana win play-offs

But second-half goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Refiloe Jane were enough to give Banyana Banyana victory, despite unexpected late drama when Jane was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for handling the ball inside her own six-yard box.

The Black Queens thought they had equalised early in the second half when Stella Nyamekye stabbed in, but South African referee Akhona Makalima adjudged that Evelyn Badu had kicked the ball out of the hands of Ivorian keeper Oceane Konan moments before.

Thembi Kgatlana scored two goals at the 2023 Women's World Cup and netted again in Casablanca to keep alive South Africa's hopes of returning to the tournament Nigeria have failed to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time, after being beaten 2-1 by South Africa in a play-off at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).