2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Semifinal: Controversial Penalty Squeezes South Africa Past Zambia

2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations Semifinal: Controversial Penalty Squeezes South Africa Past Zambia

Keba Mothoagae
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:07 PM
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  • South Africa made it through to the 2022 Women's Africa Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Zambia in Casablanca
  • Linda Mothlalo's highly debatable penalty in the 94th minute proved to be the difference between Banyana Banyana and the Copper Queens
  • This ensured that Desiree Ellis' women qualified for their second final in a row, where they will await one of Morocco or Nigeria

South Africa qualified for the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations with a nervy 1-0 win over Southern African rivals Zambia at the Stade Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

Linda Mothlalo scored a 94th-minute penalty to see Banyana Banyana reach their second final in a row. The penalty was highly controversial and will be the subject of debate for a while to come.

banyana banyana, shepolopolo, copper queens, patrice motsepe, var, desiree ellis, bruce mwape, linda motlhalo, lydia tafesse, martha tembo, south africa, zambia, 2022, wafcon
Linda Motlhalo (left) scored a debatable injury penalty to send South Africa into the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations final past Zambia. Image source: @Banyana_Banyana
Source: Twitter

Jermaine Seopesenwe and Zambia's Martha Tembo came together in what seemed to be an innocuous and unavoidable collision. However, after a lengthy VAR-induced wait, Ethiopian referee Lydia Tafesse pointed to the penalty spot.

Mothlalo coolly converted the ball past the hapless goalkeeper Catherine Musonda.

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On the balance of play, the match proved to be a cagey affair, with little to speak of for much of the encounter. Bruce Mwape set up the Copper Queens expertly to frustrate and blunt the tournament favourites under the guidance of Desiree.

It did appear that Banyana was getting stronger in the last 20 minutes of the game as Zambia patently started tiring. Musonda made a sensational save off Seopesenwe's fierce shot in the 84th minute, for instance.

A relieved South Africa will now await the winner of what promises to be a cracker between Morocco and Nigeria later.

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 Fish, 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.

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Keba Mothoagae
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South AfricaSouth Africa Football Association (SAFA)