After the teams played to a 1-1 draw away in Kinshasa, South Africa edged the return leg 1-0 thanks to Thembi Kgatlana’s added-time winner at the end of the game.
She did well to gain possession 40 yards from goal before racing into the box and slipping her shot past visiting goalkeeper Ruth Kashala.
It was no more than Banyana Banyana deserved after they had missed a host of chances in the game but were also denied by some fine scrambling defence and saves from Kashala.
Banyana are playing these qualifiers with assistant coach Thina Mbuli in the dugout after long-serving head coach Desiree Ellis could not agree on a new contract with the South African Football Association.
She has been offered a new four-year deal but is not happy with the terms. It remains to be seen whether that impasse can be resolved.
DR Congo had their moments in the game but never unduly threatened the South African goal and must now wait to see if they can still book their place at the 17 March–3 April 2026 finals.
South Africa join hosts Morocco and 10 other qualifiers as the first 12 teams to book their places at the finals.
But the Confédération Africaine de Football have stated they will expand the finals field to 16 teams but have not yet announced how the other four qualifiers will be determined.
The tournament has added importance as the four semifinalists in Morocco will qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
South Africa have been to the last two global finals in 2019 and 2023 and were crowned African champions in 2022 but finished fourth at the last finals, also held in Morocco earlier this year.
