Star striker Thembi Kgatlana scored as South Africa edged Burkina Faso 1-0 on Tuesday to squeeze into the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-finals in Morocco.
Mexico-based Kgatlana struck her second goal of the tournament after 21 minutes in Casablanca, then her team withstood continuous second-half pressure in a tense match.
The winning goal will haunt Burkinabe central defender Madinatou Rouamba, who failed to cut off a cross from Fikile Magama, leaving Kgatlana to tap the ball past goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou.
Burkina Faso were awarded a penalty just two minutes into the second half, but the decision by the Cameroonian referee was reversed after a VAR review.
The rest of the half saw a string of Burkinabe attacks, but a lack of creativity, wild shooting and an impressive display from goalkeeper Kaylin Swart defied the west Africans.
South Africa, champions in 2022 and five-time runners-up in the marquee African women's football competition, had to win to survive, and also needed the Ivory Coast to defeat Tanzania.
The Ivorians obliged with a 2-1 victory through goals from N'Sira Ouedraogo just before half-time and Ines Konan midway through the second half in a match played simultaneously.
Ouedrago struck with a snap shot from just inside the area and Konan converted a penalty. Diana Msewa netted a consolation added-time goal for Tanzania from another penalty.
Ivory Coast finished Group B with seven points. South Africa had four and Burkina Faso and Tanzania three each.
In the quarter-finals on Saturday, Ivory Coast stay in Casablanca to face Group A runners-up Algeria while South Africa travel to Rabat for a showdown with host nation Morocco.
Quarter-final winners not only move closer to a record two-million-dollar WAFCON first prize, they also qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Latest stories
Digital World SpaceX revenue jumps 92% in first earnings report, but shares slide
SpaceX's revenue jumped 92 percent in the second quarter, beating analyst expectations by around $1 billion in its first post-IPO earnings report, but shares tumbled as investors remained skeptical about the company's...
Sports Infantino's problems mount as Wenger and key FIFA ally turn on him
Pressure on FIFA president Gianni Infantino intensified on Tuesday, with opposition emerging from within world football's governing body as well as from external critics over his since-abandoned proposal to open...
Sports Pakistan close on series-levelling win against West Indies
Pakistan's spinners put their team on course for a series-levelling victory as the West Indies stumbled to 103 for six -- a lead of just 60 runs -– on an eventful third day of the...