Ramalepe calls for mental strength as South Africa face Nigeria in World Cup qualifier

Lebohang Ramalepe has called on South Africa to show mental resilience when they meet Nigeria in a decisive 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification play-off on Thursday.

Banyana Banyana missed out on automatic qualification after losing 2-1 to hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons also failed to secure an automatic place after they were beaten 1-0 by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in their last-eight match.

The result means South Africa must overcome their long-standing rivals to reach the inter-confederation play-offs and keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup alive.

Ramalepe, who has previously experienced the pressure of important meetings with Nigeria, believes South Africa’s mindset will be crucial in determining which side progresses.

“What is required is mental toughness. As a team, we just need to ask ourselves: ‘what is it that we want?”Ramalepe toldESPN.

“If we go into the next match with the mentality of ‘all is lost’…no, we still have a chance, all is not lost.

“We just need to stay focused, be mentally sharp and take it as a final match.”

The defender urged her team-mates not to allow the disappointment of their defeat by Morocco to affect their approach against the Super Falcons.

Instead, she wants Desiree Ellis’ side to treat the meeting as an opportunity to revive their qualification campaign, with the winner moving closer to the global tournament.

Both South Africa and Nigeria had been expected to compete for automatic qualification from the continental competition, but their quarter-final defeats left them needing to navigate the play-off route.

The encounter is scheduled to be played at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday, with kick-off at 21:00 Nigerian time.

For Banyana Banyana, victory would provide a route into the inter-confederation play-offs. Defeat, however, would end their hopes of reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup through this qualification pathway.

Ramalepe’s message to her team is therefore one of concentration and belief, rather than resignation, as South Africa prepare for another high-pressure meeting with the Super Falcons.