Burkina Faso will be facing 2022 champions South Africa in a high-stakes final group stage encounter of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at the at the Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca at 17:00 BST.

The Burkinabe enter the tie full of confidence after recording historic first-ever tournament victory against Ivory Coast, while powerhouse South Africa fights to avoid a shocking group-stage exit.

With a quarter-final berth on the line, Striver.Football .profiles six players who will carry the hopes of their nations.

Burkina Faso: The History Makers

Adele Kabre (Forward)

Tournament tracker: Started both games. She broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute against Tanzania, scoring the vital opening goal that paved the way for Burkina Faso's historic first tournament win.

Tactical profile: A traditional target forward who uses physical strength to hold the ball up. She excels at drawing defenders out of position and creating space for late-running midfielders.

Balkissa Sawadogo (Forward)

Tournament tracker: Featured in both matches. She etched her name into national folklore by netting a dramatic, high-pressure 80th-minute match-winner against Tanzania.

Tactical profile: A dynamic winger known for blistering acceleration and direct running. She thrives on loose balls in transition and exploits high defensive lines on the counter-attack.

Adama Congo (Midfielder)

Tournament tracker: Anchored the midfield in both games. She scored Burkina Faso's lone goal during the heavy 4-1 opening-day defeat to Ivory Coast.

Tactical profile: A box-to-box midfielder with a high defensive work rate. She transitions rapidly from breaking up opposition plays to launching forward to join the attack.

South Africa: The Desperate Heavyweights

Thembi Kgatlana (Forward)

Tournament tracker: Played every minute. She sparked South Africa's second-half resurgence against Ivory Coast by scoring a brilliant solo goal to make it 2-1.

Tactical profile: An elite, explosive forward who relies on world-class dribbling and sudden changes of direction. She is highly unpredictable in 1v1 situations inside the final third.

Hildah Magaia (Forward)

Tournament tracker: Formed a lethal partnership up front. She saved South Africa from mathematical elimination by scoring a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer against Ivory Coast.

Tactical profile: A clinical, ice-cold finisher who excels at finding pockets of space inside a crowded penalty box. She shows immense composure under heavy defensive pressure.

Linda Motlhalo (Midfielder)

Tournament tracker: Pulling the strings in midfield. She unlocked the Ivorian defense with a perfectly timed, decisive assist for Kgatlana's goal.

Tactical profile: A technical playmaker with exceptional vision and spatial awareness. She controls the tempo of the match through short, crisp passing combinations.

Three Lessons Young Footballers Can Learn From This Match

Body Orientation Before Receiving: Watch how Motlhalo constantly scans the field and shapes her body open before receiving a pass, allowing her to turn instantly and spot forward runs without wasting extra touches.

Timing the Defensive Line: Study Sawadogo's horizontal runs along the opposition backline, specifically how she delays her forward sprint until the exact millisecond the ball is kicked to beat the offside trap at top speed.

Composure Under Physical Pressure (Adele Kabre): Observe how Kabre shields the ball with her back to the goal, using her arms and core for balance to protect possession while waiting for teammate support.