South Africa and Ivory Coast began the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Banyana Banyana took 24 shots against Tanzania and lost 2-1. Ivory Coast needed half as many attempts to score four goals and mark their return to the tournament after a twelve-year absence with a victory.
They meet in Casablanca on Friday with very different consequences at stake.
South Africa need to repair the damage caused by a result that transformed the shape of Group B. Ivory Coast can show that their 4-1 victory over Burkina Faso was more than an inspired opening performance and move closer to the quarter-finals.
South Africa produced but did not finish
The defeat to Tanzania ended South Africa’s nine-match unbeaten run in the group stage of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
It was not caused by a lack of chances. Desiree Ellis’s side finished with 24 attempts, nine of them on target, compared with Tanzania’s ten shots and five on target.
Bambanani Mbane equalised before half-time after Diana Msewa had opened the scoring, but Hasnath Ubamba decided the match in the 87th minute. Tanzania claimed the first victory in their history at the tournament.
South Africa had not lost their opening WAFCON match since 2014. That result did not eliminate them: they eventually reached the third-place play-off. They also progressed to the final in 2012 after beginning with a defeat.
History shows that there is still a way back. The standings, however, leave little room for another setback.
Four goals from twelve shots
Ivory Coast experienced a completely different opening match.
Rebecca Elloh scored from the penalty spot against Burkina Faso before Inès Konan added two goals inside the opening 23 minutes. N’Sira Ouedraogo added a fourth after the interval and Adama Congo completed the 4-1.
The Ivorians scored four times from twelve attempts, giving them a conversion rate of 33%. Konan converted both of her shots on target, while Ouedraogo finished with a goal and an assist.
The scoreline was emphatic, although it did not entirely reflect the match. Burkina Faso created three big chances, one more than Ivory Coast, despite playing with ten after their goalkeeper was sent off.
South Africa will test that defence with a much greater volume of attacking pressure.
A precedent from 2014
The teams have met only once before at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Ivory Coast defeated South Africa 1-0 in the 2014 third-place play-off. Ida Guehai scored the only goal in the 84th minute to secure the Ivorians’ best result in the competition.
Twelve years later, they meet again with Ivory Coast and Tanzania leading Group B on three points. South Africa and Burkina Faso are yet to get off the mark.
Banyana Banyana’s challenge is to turn the production of their opening match into goals. Ivory Coast will attempt to maintain their efficiency against opponents who are under pressure to take risks.
The match kicks off in Casablanca on Friday 31 July at 17:00 GMT.