Banyana Banyana stunned by Tanzania as WAFCON campaign gets off to rocky start

[p]Banyana Banyana dominated possession and chances but were sloppy in front of goal, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tanzania/p2wIs1Ae/"]Tanzania[/a] took two of the few opportunities that came their way to punish the 2022 champions.[/p][p]It puts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/23FeDl3D/"]South Africa[/a] on the back foot, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ivory-coast/2iLuzkms/"]Ivory Coast[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/burkina-faso/U96KCev4/"]Burkina Faso[/a] still to come in the pool, and the tournament serving as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.[/p][p]The four semifinalists will book their tickets to the global showpiece, while two losing quarterfinalists will advance to the intercontinental play-offs.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cesane-noxolo/IJ4KPuXH/"]Sinoxolo Cesane[/a] scuffed a shot when well placed in the first real opening for Banyana Banyana before Tanzania wasted a superb chance when they got in between the South African centre-backs but fired straight at goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dlamini-andile/IelNsZYf/"]Andile Dlamini[/a].[/p][image alt="Match statistics" id="0d577252-dbdf-4705-a52f-9a58f057e86f" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="26987969-b6db-4eac-b09c-271578aec879" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/magaia-hildah/nVhUhlr7/"]Hildah Magaia[/a], the hero of the 2022 final for South Africa, blazed over the bar with a first-time shot as she ghosted in from the left wing, while [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/dhlamini-karabo/EZTihkab/"]Karabo Dhlamini[/a]’s deep cross from the left smashed against the crossbar with Tanzanian goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/abass-najiat/MuUvZxge/"]Najiat Abass[/a] beaten.[/p][p]But against the run of play, it was Tanzania who took the lead in the 37th minute following a quick breakaway.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/msewa-diana/z9GWFiXE/"]Diana Msewa[/a] picked up the ball 35 yards from goal and drove into the box, with her low shot going into the net via a deflection off South Africa defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gamede-bongeka/prCQ13xG/"]Bongeka Gamede[/a].[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kgatlana-thembi/KEqY2g2K/"]Thembi Kgatlana[/a] was denied by a superb stop from Abass, but from the resulting corner, Banyana were level.[/p][p]Abass could only flap at the high ball, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbane-bambanani/IBW5qe4r/"]Bambanani Mbane[/a] headed in from close range for her sixth international goal in her 104th appearance.[/p][image alt="South Africa player ratings" id="c0b0b6c5-c74f-4b56-b29f-ab2c1130cac2" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="565f53f5-8551-4164-aba6-b77290c69108" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Tanzania came close to taking the lead again when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ubamba-hasnath/SQjaXHQ0/"]Hasnath Ubamba[/a]’s free-kick from the edge of the box looked to be arrowing into the net before Dlamini made a sprawling save to keep the scores level.[/p][p]South Africa should have gone in front when Dhlamini’s perfect cross was met by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/majiya-nthabiseng/jJpN0tIQ/"]Nthabiseng Majiya[/a], but she steered the ball wide from close range.[/p][p]Tanzania struck again after fine work on the left wing by Ubamba saw her cut inside and fire low to beat Dlamini at her near post in the 87th minute.[/p][p]Midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/motlhalo-linda/CC4Y13K9/"]Linda Motlhalo[/a] made her 100th appearance in a Banyana Banyana jersey, becoming the 13th player to do so.[/p]