Tanzania pulled off the first major surprise of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after defeating South Africa 2-1 in their opening Group B match on Monday in Casablanca, Morocco.
The Twiga Stars secured all three points through brilliant individual efforts from Diana Msewa and Hasnath Umbamba, ending South Africa’s hopes of starting the tournament with a victory.
Msewa opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a remarkable solo run, collecting the ball near the centre circle before driving into the South African penalty area and beating goalkeeper Andile Dlamini at the near post.
South Africa restored parity deep into first-half stoppage time when Bambanani Mbane nodded home from close range after Tanzania goalkeeper Najiat Idrisa could only push away a corner kick.
With the contest appearing destined to end in a draw, Umbamba produced another moment of brilliance three minutes from time. She latched onto a throw-in, burst past her marker and squeezed a shot beyond Dlamini from a tight angle to seal a memorable victory for Tanzania.
Ranked 65 places below South Africa in the FIFA women’s rankings, Tanzania delivered an impressive performance, combining physical dominance with attacking intent to outplay one of Africa’s top sides.
Msewa’s outstanding display earned her the Player of the Match award, with her stunning opener widely regarded as the best goal scored so far in the tournament.
The defeat marked a disappointing start for South Africa, who struggled to justify their status as the continent’s second-highest-ranked team behind defending champions Nigeria. Defensive lapses and misplaced passes repeatedly disrupted their rhythm throughout the encounter.
The victory sends Tanzania to the top of Group B, which also features Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, while registering the tournament’s first upset after Morocco and Algeria claimed expected wins in their opening Group A fixtures.
