Thembi Kgatlana: South Africa Star Ruled Out Of Rest Of Wafcon

South Africa forward Thembi Kgatlana will miss the rest of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a ankle injury.

The Racing Louisville star had her tournament ended by a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in South Africa’s 1-0 win over Botswana on Sunday.

Kgatlana had to be stretched out of the field on the 69th minute before going for an MRI scan which confirmed the extent of the injury on Monday.

“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,” Banyana Banyana’s team doctor Rodney Mokoka told reporters on Monday.

“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.”

Kgatlana scored his opening goal for Banyana Banyana’s 3-1 win over Burundi and now leaves South Africa with a 24-player squad.

The forward has been an integral part of her national team. She’s contributed 22 goals in 63 appearances, including the team’s first World Cup goal in 2019.

South Africa returns to action on Thursday when they face Tunisia in the quarterfinal of the WAFCON at the Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat.