South Africa drew 2-2 with Ivory Coast at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, on the second matchday of Group B at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The 2022 champions trailed 0-2 at half-time. They recovered the draw in the 99th minute.
Grace Sery, 18, scored both Ivorian goals: in the 18th minute and the 36th, both set up by N’Sira Ouedraogo and both from outside the box.
They were the only two shots Ivory Coast put on target all match.
Eleven shots against four
South Africa had eleven shots, five on target. Ivory Coast had four. Possession finished 63-37 and touches in the opposition box 19-4. South Africa won four corners; their opponents none.
The expected goals model gave South Africa 1.59 and Ivory Coast 0.62. The two Ivorian shots that went in were worth 0.26 of xGOT between them, the measure that judges a shot once it has direction and height.
Goalkeeper Kaylin Swart ended the match without a single save and with two goals conceded: 1.74 worse than the model expected from the shots she faced. Desiree Ellis had picked her ahead of Andile Dlamini, who played in the defeat by Tanzania.
Ivory Coast stopped attacking in the 63rd minute
Ouedraogo provided both assists and was substituted in the 63rd minute.
Ivory Coast did not have another shot on target. Across the whole second half they managed one attempt, one touch in the opposition box and 0.06 expected goals. They defended instead: 28 clearances to 16 and 21 fouls to 14.
Kgatlana created, Magaia finished
Thembi Kgatlana accounted for 1.11 of South Africa’s 1.59 expected goals. She had three shots, all on target and all inside the box, and scored one. She missed two big chances. Ellis took her off in the 84th minute.
Hildah Magaia had come on at half-time. Her two shots were worth 0.12 expected goals between them.
In the 90+4 she scored and the goal was ruled out after a video review. In the 90+9 she scored again, set up by Ronnel Donnelly, who had come on in the 62nd minute.
Liga F on the pitch
Rebecca Elloh, of Valencia, started and was the only Liga F player to take the field. Koko Ange, of Costa Adeje Tenerife, stayed on the bench.
The group
Ivory Coast reach four points unbeaten, although they have still never won two matches in a row at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa have one point from six.
Tanzania, on three points and with a game in hand, face Burkina Faso later tonight.