Banyana Banyana's Dramatic Fightback at WAFCON

South Africa are still breathing in Morocco. Barely.

Two goals down to Ivory Coast in Casablanca and staring at the exit door, Banyana Banyana dragged themselves back from the brink with a ferocious second-half response, salvaging a 2-2 draw that keeps their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign alive by the thinnest of margins.

The comeback had familiar fingerprints. Thembi Kgatlana struck first after the break to slice the deficit and inject belief into a side that had looked doomed. Then, with the clock almost out and the stadium bracing for a West African win, Hildah Magaia arrived with the equaliser, scored seconds before the final whistle.

From despair to defiance in one sweeping finish.

The point is Banyana’s first in Group B after two matches. It is not enough to ease the tension. They remain three points behind Ivory Coast and now walk a tightrope, needing other results to fall kindly if they are to reach the knockout stage.

The group picture is unforgiving. Tanzania, also on three points, can seal their place in the quarterfinals with victory over Burkina Faso in this evening’s other Group B clash in Casablanca. If that happens, South Africa’s margin for error shrinks to almost nothing.

Banyana’s final group assignment comes against Burkina Faso on Tuesday. The equation is simple, even if the route is not: they must win, then watch, wait, and hope the rest of Group B bends in their favour.

After a night like this, though, one question lingers over Casablanca: how many lives does this South African side have left?