2026 WWC Playoffs: Dhlamini Rallies Banyana for Super Falcons Battle

South Africa defender Karabo Dhlamini has urged Banyana Banyana to defeat Nigeria’s Super Falcons in Thursday’s play-in clash for a place in the inter-confederation playoffs.

Desiree Ellis’ side missed out on automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing 2-1 to hosts Morocco in their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.

The defeat means South Africa must overcome Nigeria to keep their hopes of reaching the global tournament alive.

Dhlamini said Banyana Banyana must make the most of the opportunity to secure another route to the World Cup.

“The goal is still the same,” Dhlamini told ESPN.

“We’ll try our best to win the play-offs because we still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup,” she added.

The defender acknowledged the importance of Thursday’s encounter and urged her teammates to remain focused on securing victory.

Nigeria are also seeking to recover from their disappointing WAFCON quarter-final exit after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon.

The winner of the clash will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs, where African teams will battle teams from other confederations for places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

The encounter will take place at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm Nigerian time.