South Africa and Mali Secure Wins in WAFCON Group C Openers
The 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations kicked off with reigning champions South Africa and Mali both claiming vital victories in their respective Group C matches on Monday.
South Africa Defeats Ghana 2-0
In the first match of the day, South Africa began their title defense with a confident 2-0 win over Ghana. Goals from Linda Motlhalo and Jermaine Seoposenwe within the opening 35 minutes set the tone for a dominant performance by Banyana Banyana.
The breakthrough came in the 28th minute when a VAR review confirmed a penalty for a foul on Noxolo Cesane. Motlhalo stepped up to coolly convert the penalty, giving South Africa a deserved lead. Just moments later, Seoposenwe doubled the advantage, finishing low into the far corner after a clever pass from full-back Lebohang Ramalepe.
Ghana, making their return to WAFCON after missing the last edition, struggled to match the pace and organization of their opponents. While they improved in the second half, they were wasteful in front of goal, hitting the crossbar twice through Evelyn Badu and Alice Kusi. South African goalkeeper Andile Dlamini was instrumental in preserving the clean sheet, making several key saves.
The result extends Banyana Banyana’s impressive record in tournament openers, having now won their last three, including victories over Nigeria in 2018 and 2022. Ghana will need to regroup quickly as they aim to progress from a challenging group that also includes Mali and Tanzania.
Mali Edges Tanzania 1-0
In the second match, Mali secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Tanzania in a tightly contested clash. The game’s only goal came in first-half stoppage time when Saratou Traoré found the bottom right corner following a set-piece situation, delivering a crucial lead for Mali.
Despite several opportunities to equalize, Tanzania struggled to convert their chances in the second half. Stumai Athumani forced a sharp save from Mali goalkeeper Fatoumata Karentao, while Elizabeth Chenge was also denied. The Tanzanian attack faced challenges with offside calls, limiting their momentum as they sought an equalizer.
Mali managed the game with discipline, soaking up pressure and making key defensive interventions as they held on for all three points. The victory strengthens Mali’s position in the group and sets them up for a promising tournament as they look to build on their early success.
