Thembi Kgatlana Joins Asisat Oshoala in Legendary Group of World Cup Scorers

• Thembi Kgatlana scored a crucial goal as South Africa beat Italy 3-2 to finish second in their group
• Banyana Banyana qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament for the first time in history
• Kgatlana has joined Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala in an exclusive list of African scorers at the tournament

Thembi Kgatlana has racked up an impressive achievement at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Banyana Banyana striker scored not only the winning goal against Italy, but also joined an exclusive group in the process.

Kgatlana’s goal, combined with her strike against Argentina and her goal in the 2019 edition of the tournament, takes her tally to three.

As noted by SuperSport, that puts her among an exclusive list of African players who have achieved the feat.

One of the other high-profile players on that list is Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala. The Barcelona Femeni attacker achieved the feat when she scored against Australia.

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She also became the first African player to score in three different World Cup tournaments in the process.

Both Oshoala and Kgatlana will have a chance to grab more goals in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Nigeria will face off against England in the Round of 16 in the tournament, while Banyana will face the Netherlands, AS reported.

Kgatlana's emotional pre-tournament journey

Banyana Banyana striker, Thembi Kgatlana, has reacted after South Africa’s hard-fought victory over Italy at the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Kgatlana scored the winner for her side in stoppage time to take her nation through to the knockout phase of the competition for the first time in their history.

Kgatlana disclosed that it had been an emotional period for her, having lost three family members in the space of three weeks, Sports Brief reported.

Emotional Thembi Kgatlana celebrates

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Sports Brief also reported on Kgatlana weeping after Banyana advanced to the knockout stage of the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Going into the final group match, South Africa needed a win to progress while a draw would have been enough for their Italian counterparts.

However, Kgatlana struck the winner in the second minute of stoppage time to give her side a famous victory and wept after the final whistle.