The star striker, Thembi Kgatlana, has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.

Kgatlana ruptured her Achilles tendon in the 69th minute of their 1-0 win over Botswana in their final group C match on Sunday.

The Banyana team Rodney Moraka confirmed that she will be returning back to South Africa in order to undergo surgery.

“Thembi Kgatlana sustained a complete rupture of the left Achilles tendon against Botswana, which was confirmed by the MRI scan this morning.

“Unfortunately, she will be out for the whole WAFCON 2022 tournament and she is due for an operation back home in South Africa.

“Post operation healing will be guided by certain milestones that we have to achieve, of course, a comprehensive functional rehabilitation programme will be in place for her but the quicker we achieve those milestones the quicker she will be back in the field of play.”

Banyana and Algeria will lock-horns in Rabat on Thursday evening in the quarter-finals.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport