A second half brace from Hildah Magaia was enough to hand the South African women’s national football team their maiden Africa Cup of Nations title as the Banyana Banyana edged Morocco 2-1 in the final staged at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex on Saturday evening. Coming to the final, the Banyana Banyana had unsuccessfully attempted to claim the trophy in the five finals (1995,2000, 2008,2012 and 2016) they had graced. Full-time:🇲🇦1️⃣➖2️⃣🇿🇦HISTORY as Banyana Banyana clinch their first ever WAFCON trophy!!!It’s coming home Mzansi!!!!😭😭😭🙏🏾🇿🇦💚💛#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 #LiveTheImpossible pic.twitter.com/UV37lUwqMA— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 23, 2022 However, Magaia had the answer this time round as her goals from close range delivered the title as well as earned them a direct ticket to the FIFA World Cup set for next year in Australia and New Zealand. With the facility packed up to the rafters, Morocco who were enjoying the home comfort and support settled in the game first with their free-flowing and build ups a joy to watch. However, lack of cutting edge in the final third, wastefulness and indecisiveness saw the chances created go begging, creating room for Banyana to grow into the game rapidly. 🇿🇦 𝐀 𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐎 👸Hildah Magaia scored 2️⃣ goals to guide the Banyana Banyana to their first ever #TotalEnergiesWAFCON title! 💫#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 | #EmpoweringOurGame pic.twitter.com/2ofNDfbZaj— #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2022 (@CAFwomen) July 23, 2022 South Africa looked dangerous and had the urge to break the deadlock whenever they were in possession unlike the hosts who embraced patient build ups. The first open in the game presented itself in the 35th minute when Banyana’s attacker Magaia was put through but her lobbed attempt was well stopped by the advancing Khadija Er-Rmichi.Magaia, one of the aggressive players on the pitch, twice tried to beat the custodian from long range freekicks that both swayed way off the target.Morocco nearly grabbed the lead in the final minutes of the first half but Rosella Annie Ayane who would have send the ball to the far corner fired a lovely cutback from Imane Saoud wide.Morocco were forced to a unwanted substitution in the 55th minute as Zineb Redouani was stretchered off after going down unchallenged. Her place was taken up by Chizlane Chhiri.A quick transition in the 63rd minute culminated to the opening goal to South Africa as Magaia tapped in the ball from Jermaine Seoposenwe’s cut back.A long ball from the defence was well collected by Seoposenwe on the left wing, attracting two Moroccan defenders, consequently isolating Magaia who had an easy time in slotting the ball past the line for the second time in the tournament as she was not under pressure.A defensive error by Moroccan centre back Elchad Nesryne allowed Magaia to chip home the second goal in the 71st minute, putting off the hopes of the hosts to level matters.The EFF sends its congratulations to Banyana Banyana for being the WAFCON Champions 2022 pic.twitter.com/AZjsyiDNBW— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) July 23, 2022 Nesryne miscalculated and failed to clear a long cross from Karabo Dhlamini gifting Magaia who was off her shoulder with the chance to lob the ball past the on rushing Er-Rmichi.Morocco dragged themselves back into the game in the 80th minute as the England based Ayane halved the deficit after Fatima Tagnaout put her through.The goal injected the impulse to level matters on the Moroccan side but South Africa held on the slim advantage to the final whistle to lay hands on the title.
