South Africa wins shootout to make last four
South Africa went the distance with Senegal in a dramatic quarter-final at the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, claiming a 4-1 win in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of tense but ultimately goalless football.
It proved to be an attritional contest, with both sides unable to crack the other's defence, although Senegal arguably created the better of the early opportunities.
Banyana Banyana created some chances of their own, but neither side got close to scoring until the first period of extra-time, when South Africa found the back of the net on 98 minutes through Lebohang Ramalepe, but she had collected the ball in an offside position and the goal was ruled out.
Senegal hearts were in mouths with 10 minutes remaining of extra-time when Wolimata Ndiaye slid into a challenge on South Africa's Hildah Magaia as she raced into the box, and the referee pointed to the spot.
But the flag went up for offside before a lengthy video assistant referee check ensued, after which the offside was ruled out and Ndiaye's tackle was ruled to be fair, cancelling the on-field decision to award a penalty and leaving the game deadlocked as it moved into the penalty shootout.
Senegal was the first to blink when Nguenar Ndiaye saw her effort saved by Andile Dlamini. The South Africa goakeeper then kept out Senegal's next effort from Meta Kande, leaving Bambanani Mbane with the chance to win it for Banyana Banyana with her penalty.
The central defender emphatically blasted the ball into the top corner of the goal, sending her side to its first shootout victory in its history at the tournament, and a mouth-watering semi-final with Nigeria on Wednesday (AEST).
