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 South Africa in their Group B encounter.
A late winner from substitute Hasnath Ubamba secured a historic victory for Tanzania, handing Banyana Banyana a disappointing start to their WAFCON campaign.
Tanzania Strike First
South Africa entered the match as one of the tournament favourites, but Tanzania showed they were not intimidated by one of Africa’s strongest women’s football nations.
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 highest to score in first-half stoppage time, bringing Banyana Banyana level at 1–1 and giving her side renewed hope heading into the second half.
Ubamba Delivers the Decisive Blow
The second half saw South Africa enjoy more possession, but Tanzania remained organised in defence and continued to threaten 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 ranks among the most memorable in Tanzania’s women’s football history. Defeating a continental powerhouse like South Africa at WAFCON is a significant achievement and reflects the continued growth and competitiveness of women’s football across Africa.
For South Africa, the defeat is a disappointing setback. Despite enjoying long spells of possession and creating opportunities, Banyana Banyana were unable to make their dominance count and were punished by Tanzania’s disciplined defending 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 stages.
South Africa, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly. With the group stage still in its early stages, they remain well placed to recover, but they will need improved performances in their remaining matches to keep their hopes of lifting the trophy alive.
Final Thoughts
Tanzania’s 2–1 victory over South Africa will be remembered as one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far. Goals from Diana Lucas Msewa and Hasnath Ubamba, combined with a disciplined team performance, earned the Twiga Stars a famous victory against one of Africa’s leading women’s football nations.
For South Africa, the defeat serves as a reminder of just how competitive WAFCON has become. As the tournament progresses, Banyana Banyana will be eager to bounce back, while Tanzania will look to build on a result that has captured the attention of football fans across the continent.
