Hildah Magaia struck with virtually the last kick of the game as South Africa earned a draw 2-2 with Ivory Coast in Casablanca, keeping their hopes of reaching the WAFCON quarter-finals intact.
Grace Sery gave the hosts a first-half platform, scoring twice inside 18 minutes, first with a low drive from outside the box and then a composed lob over goalkeeper Kaylin Swart. Both goals came from quick breaks orchestrated by fellow teenager N’Sira Ouédraogo.
Desiree Ellis’s side looked a different team after the break. Thembi Kgatlana cut in from the left and rifled a shot into the top corner to halve the deficit, and Magaia thought she had levelled soon after, only for the goal to be ruled out following a VAR check for offside.
⚽️ ℂ𝔸𝔽 𝕎𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟’𝕤 𝔸𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒 ℂ𝕦𝕡 𝕠𝕗 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟞 🏆
🥅 ⒼⓄⒶⓁ: Banyana Banyana have reduced the margin against Côte d’Ivoire!
🇿🇦 1⃣➖2⃣ 🇨🇮
🚨 LIVE
📺 SABC 3
🌐 https://t.co/26PdrPrnVE#SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/69qbDLUh9I— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 31, 2026
The forward wasn’t denied for long. With the Ivorian defence caught square deep into stoppage time, Magaia was played through into space and finished from twelve yards to complete the comeback.
⚽️ ℂ𝔸𝔽 𝕎𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕟’𝕤 𝔸𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒 ℂ𝕦𝕡 𝕠𝕗 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟞 🏆
🥅 ⒼⓄⒶⓁ: Banyana Banyana have eventually equalized!
🇿🇦 2⃣➖2⃣ 🇨🇮
🚨 LIVE
📺 SABC 3
🌐 https://t.co/26PdrPrnVE#SABCSportFootball #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/UbEjFQ1hpd— SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) July 31, 2026
The result leaves South Africa’s progress from Group B in the balance ahead of a decisive final fixture against Burkina Faso on Tuesday.
Photo: Zamani Makautsi/Gallo Images
