A crucial encounter is set for this evening as South Africa's Banyana Banyana take on Mali in the final Group C match of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). Both teams head into the fixture at the Stade d'Honneur in Oujda, Morocco, with their places in the quarterfinals already secured, but a fierce battle is anticipated for the top spot in the group.
Both South Africa and Mali are currently tied on four points after a win and a draw each in their opening two matches. The reigning champions, South Africa, hold a slight advantage with a superior goal difference. Banyana Banyana began their title defense with a 2-0 victory over Ghana, followed by a 1-1 draw against Tanzania. Similarly, Mali overcame Tanzania with a 1-0 win before being held to a 1-1 draw by Ghana.
A draw would be sufficient for South Africa to finish as group winners, but head coach Desiree Ellis has dismissed any notion of her team playing for a single point. "We want to win the game," Ellis stated, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum heading into the knockout stages.
Mali's coach, Mohamed Saloum, expressed confidence in his team's ability to challenge the champions. He acknowledged South Africa's strength but insisted that his squad is well-prepared for the encounter.
The last time the two sides met in the WAFCON was in the 2018 semi-finals, where South Africa emerged victorious with a 2-0 win.
In the men's Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, it was a different story, with Mali defeating South Africa's Bafana Bafana 2-0 in a group stage match during the 2023 tournament.
Tonight's match in Morocco is scheduled to kick off at 8:00 PM local time. The outcome will determine the quarterfinal matchups for both teams as they continue their quest for continental glory.
