By
Eniola Olatunji 

Will the Banyana Banyana of South Africa make a victory encore over Black Queens of Ghana in the 3rd place match scheduled for 8pm on Friday at the Stade Larbi Zaoui, Casablanca in Morocco, increase the “koboko lashing’ given Ghana or lose to get down the ladder of history? 
 
The two teams met in the first group C match of the WAFCON 2024 tournament and South Africa won 2-0 with goals scored by Glasgow City FC Midfielder, Linda Motlhelo in the 28th minute and Jermaine Seposenwe Forward who plies her trade in Mexico. That means Ghana was finished in the first half of play.

Ghana after submitting to South Africa 0-2; played 1-1 with Mali and then forced Tanzania to stoop down 4-0 at the group stages. She beat Algeria 4-2 via penalties after a goalless full time in the quarterfinals before losing via penalty to hosts Morocco 2-4 after playing 1-1 at full time in a match she dominated in the first half where she scored first.

Ghana scored 6 goals and conceded 5 in the tournament meaning the defence is not solid neither is the attack lethal but the team made one clean slate in the quarters. They are very physical like South Africa and we will see many ‘jambody’ plays in the match.

South Africa will be afraid of ‘Jambody’ acts as the team forfeited a utility player to serious injury during the clash with the Super Falcons of Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria’s captain popularly known as Mummy G. O. because of her Christian preaching and prayer poises, led the Falcons to Mohammed V1 Hospital, Casablanca Wednesday morning to greet and pray with the injured South African striker, Gabriela Salgado who was hailed by fans when she was stretchered off the pitch last Tuesday.

South Africa after the 2-0 win over Ghana played 1-1 with Tanzania and walloped Mali 4-0 at the group stages before defeating Senegal 4-1 on penalties after a goalless full time and then lost to the superior fire power of Nigeria 1-2 in the semifinals

South Africa scored 8 goals and concede twice with 3 clean slates meaning that Ghana will depend on miracles for victory as the South African defence conceded one of the lowest goals of the tournament and the attack were free scoring.

Ghana played 1-1 draw with South Africa (SAF) on 15th October 2014 in a WAFCON match; played goalless on 10th September 2015 in another WAFCON match; Ghana won the WAFCON encounter of 2nd December 2016 by a lone goal; won a friendly match of 11th November 2018; lost 0-3 to SAF in another friendly of 17th September 2021 before the opening match of Group C in Morocco played on 7th July 2025.

Ghana ranked 66 in the world lost all her three world cup appearances at group stages in 1999, 2003 and 2007. She made 12 WAFCON appearances never winning the title but won Silver thrice in 1998, 2002 and 2006 long time ago; She won Bronze also thrice in 2000, 2004 and 2016; placed 4th once in 1995; also made quarterfinals in 1995 losing 4 times at the group stages in 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2018.

South Africa ranked 54 in the world, made two world cu appearances with the best performance of R16 in 2023; She is the ousted defending champions of WAFCON which she won 2022; got the Silver Medal 5 times in 1995, 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2018; won Bronze twice in 2006 and 2010 when she hosted; placed 4th thrice in 2002, 2014 and 2016 meaning she had more podium finish than Ghana. She lost at the group stages twice in 1998 and 2004.

The grand finale holds on Saturday between nine times Champions, Super Falcons of Nigeria and Morocco which has never won the title at 9pm at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

Morocco will host the 16th edition of WAFCON in March 2026 which will be their 3rd consecutive advantage of hosting African women.