By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Upset as Tanzania Beat South Africa 2-1.
TWENTY-YEAR-old local Tanzanian girl caused former African Women’s football champions, Bayana Bayana of South Africa, to slump at the 14th WAFCON 2026 on going in Morocco on Monday night with a decisive winner in Group B opening game.
Hasnath Ubamba who was 20 years old last 8th July slotted in the late winning goal in the 87th minute that made the South African girls look like a lost horse in the wilderness wondering what the Xenophobic jinx has caused them.
The saying that morning shows the day tweeted on them when a beautiful cross from Asha Rashid found Dianna Msewa to score the 1st goal in the 37th minute of the game.
But then South Africa equalized at the 45+2 minute when 36-year-old Bambenani Mbane’s lone strike found the net before half time.
The Twiga Stars of Tanzania ranked 122 in the world coming to the party for the 3rd time always stopped at the group stages in 2010 and 2024 recorded the first upset of the WAFCON 14th tournament.
Bayana Bayana meaning Girls were simply stranded in their 13th appearances at the party.
They are ranked 57 in the world and were African champions in 2022 when they silenced hosts Morocco in the final before the Super Falcons added pepper to the Moroccan injury beating them again in the 2024 finale.
Burkina Faso will tackle Ivory Coast at Moulay Stadium at 9pm in the 2nd Group B match.
Well then, Group C matches come up tomorrow Tuesday when Zambia files out against the Egyptian ladies 6.00pm at the Rabat Olympic Stadium before the African Queens, record ten times champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria will play debutante Scorchers of Malawi at 9.00pm on the turf of the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
On Wednesday the first-round matches will be rounded off with Group D matches when Ghana will face Cape Verde at 6.00pm and Mali will look into the eyes of Lionesses of Cameroon at 9.00pm.
The Group D matches are important to Nigeria that is in Group C because the winner of Group C will meet the losers of Group D in the quarterfinals. Same way the Runners in Group C will meet the winner of Group D in the Quarters.
The four teams that qualify for the semifinal will automatically represent CAF at the world cup to also be hosted by Morocco later in the year.
#CAF #WAFCON2026 #COSAFA
#CECAFA #SAFA #TFF #NFF
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