- Tanzania defeated South Africa 2-1 in a major WAFCON upset
- Diana Msewa and Hasnath Umbamba scored to secure the victory
- The win puts Tanzania top of Group B after the opening match
Tanzania produced the first major surprise of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after defeating South Africa 2-1 in their Group B opener on Monday in Casablanca, Morocco.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that Diana Msewa and Hasnath Umbamba scored for the East Africans, while Bambanani Mbane found the net for South Africa in an entertaining encounter.
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Msewa gave Tanzania the lead in the 38th minute with a brilliant individual effort. After winning possession near the halfway line, she drove forward into the South African penalty area before beating goalkeeper Andile Dlamini with a powerful finish.
South Africa responded just before halftime when Mbane headed home from close range after Tanzania goalkeeper Najiat Idrisa failed to fully clear a corner kick.
The match appeared destined for a draw as both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the closing stages. However, Umbamba struck in the 87th minute to hand Tanzania a famous victory.
The forward collected a throw-in, surged past her marker and fired from a tight angle to beat Dlamini and seal all three points for the Twiga Stars.
Msewa’s impressive goal earned her the Player of the Match award, with many observers describing it as one of the standout strikes of the tournament so far.
Despite entering the competition as one of Africa’s highest-ranked teams, South Africa failed to live up to expectations. Their defence looked vulnerable throughout the contest, while misplaced passes disrupted their attacking rhythm.
Tanzania, on the other hand, displayed determination, physical strength and direct attacking football, which ultimately proved decisive.
The victory marks the first upset of the 16-team tournament and puts Tanzania in a strong position in Group B, which also includes Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. South Africa will now be looking to bounce back in their next fixture as they seek a place in the knockout stage.
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