It's Now or Never for South Africa and Zambia in 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Semifinal

• The business end of the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations begins in earnest tonight
• South Africa will take on Southern Africa rivals Zambia in the first of two semifinals tonight at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca
• Having secured a place at next year's FIFA Women's World Cup, Banyana Banyana and the Copper Queens want to sweeten the taste with maiden title wins

South Africa and Zambia will lock horns in the first semifinal of the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade V Mohammed Stadium in Casablanca.

Favourites Banyana Banyana and rising power the Copper Queens are looking to book their place in Saturday's final, with the winner set to await either Morocco or Nigeria from the other semifinal.

Satisfyingly, both Southern African rivals have booked a place at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup that will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Neither nation has won the WAFCON, with Banyana having gone into the tournament as the outright favourites, though this will not bother their opponents tonight.

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Ellis said of their opponents tonight in TimesLIVE:

“Zambia have shown the quality, they have shown the resilience with them also facing a lot of adversity. And their players have really come through,” Ellis said. So it's not going to be an easy game. Our last two matches against Zambia didn't go well. But we are better than that."

According to Goal, a focused Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape said:

"So to me, it would be like playing the final before the actual final because we are coming from the same region. As far as I am concerned, our team is ready for this semi-final and we want to reach the final."

South Africa and Zambia will kick off at 7pm CAT. The other semifinal between Morocco and Nigeria will start at 10pm CAT.

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CAF apologises to South Africa after anthem mix-up before Women's Africa Cup of Nations match against Tunisia

CAF has apologised to SAFA and Banyana Banyana for an embarrassing incident ahead of last Thursday's 1-0 quarterfinal victory over Tunisia in Morocco.

As reported on Sports Brief, during the national anthems, only the last part of 'Nkosi Sikelela iAfrika', was played.

Confusion was visible on the South African players, technical staff and managerial delegation's faces.