Updated at 12:48 – Sunday | July 24, 2022
The South African National Senior Women’s football team was crowned Women’s African Football Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at Prince Moulay Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday night.
The Total Energies WAFCON Final Results: South Africa 2-1 Morocco
Hilda Magaia brace’s (63′, 71′) helped clinch Banyana Banyana (SA) their maiden continental showpiece against the host Morocco. Rosella Ayane scored (80′) the only Moroccan goal to half the deficit but it was not good enough to secure victory.
Cred: CAF
The bronze medal of the WAFCON went to Zambia after defeating Nigeria 1-0 in Morocco on Friday. Both teams lost in the semi-finals to Morocco and SA respectively.
Cred: The Daily Voice
CAF Accolades
The Confederation of African football (CAF) SA national women’s team was named the African Women’s National Team of the Year. While the goalkeeper of the tournament went to SA shot-stopper Andile Dlamini, the outstanding player went to Morocco taliswoman Ghizlane Chebbak.
Accordingly, Desiree Ellis took the Africa Women’s Coach of the Year for guiding SA to a maiden major African cup win. Last night, Ellis dedicated the historic victory to all the players past, and present), the South African Football Association (SAFA) staff and support back home. However, she heaped more praises on the current players.
Image cred: Banyana Banyana/Twitter
Bonuses
On its June 21 statement before the team traveled to Morocco, SAFA posted that it “has put a R10 million bonus on the table as motivation for Banyana Banyana to win the 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations (Awcon) next month”.
According to SAFA president Danny Jordan, the team would share R9.2 million in bonuses should they emerge triumphant. The balance (R800. 000), Jordan clarified, is for administration purposes. It is reported that Banyana Banyana players will receive R400, 000 individually.
Historic milestone
For the SA National Senior Women’s team, this was their fifth attempt at WAFCON. They lost to Nigeria in 2000 and 2018 (on penalties), Equatorial Guinea in 2008 and 2012.
They have now emulated the Bafana Bafana (SA National Senior Men’s Football team) that bagged it for the first time ever in 1996, two years after the dawn of democratic government in the country.