One of the biggest surprises of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) unfolded today as Tanzania’s Twiga Stars claimed a memorable 2–1 victory over defending champions South Africa in their Group B opener.
A late winner from substitute Hasnath Ubamba secured a historic victory for Tanzania, handing Banyana Banyana a disappointing start to their title defence.
Tanzania Strike First
South Africa entered the match as favourites, but Tanzania showed they were not intimidated by the reigning champions.
The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when Diana Lucas Msewa found the back of the net, giving the Twiga Stars a deserved 1–0 lead after a disciplined and energetic first-half performance.
Mbane Restores Parity
South Africa responded just before halftime.
Defender Bambanani Mbane rose to the occasion, scoring in first-half stoppage time to bring Banyana Banyana level at 1–1 and give the defending champions renewed hope heading into the second half.
Ubamba Delivers the Decisive Blow
The second half saw South Africa enjoy more possession, but Tanzania remained compact in defence and looked dangerous on the counterattack.
With just three minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Hasnath Ubamba produced the decisive moment of the match, scoring in the 87th minute to restore Tanzania’s lead and send their supporters into celebration.
Goalscorers
- 37′ – Diana Lucas Msewa (Tanzania)
- 45+3′ – Bambanani Mbane (South Africa)
- 87′ – Hasnath Ubamba (Tanzania)
A Historic Result for Tanzania
The victory is one of the most significant in Tanzania’s women’s football history. Defeating the defending WAFCON champions in the opening match of the tournament is a statement of intent and highlights the continued growth of women’s football across Africa.
For South Africa, the defeat comes as a major setback. Despite creating chances and controlling long periods of possession, Banyana Banyana were unable to convert their dominance into goals and were punished by Tanzania’s resilience and clinical finishing.
What the Result Means
Tanzania begin their WAFCON campaign with three valuable points and a huge confidence boost as they look to qualify for the knockout stage.
South Africa, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly. With the group stage still in its early stages, the defending champions still have time to recover, but their margin for error has become much smaller.
Final Thoughts
Tanzania’s 2–1 victory over South Africa will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far. Goals from Diana Lucas Msewa and Hasnath Ubamba, combined with a determined team performance, earned the Twiga Stars a famous win against one of Africa’s strongest teams.
For South Africa, the result is a reminder that there are no easy matches at WAFCON. As the tournament progresses, Banyana Banyana will be determined to bounce back, while Tanzania will look to build on a victory that has captured the attention of African football fans.
