Another star player has joined Asisat Oshoala in being ruled of the Morocco 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana will play no further part in the tournament.
Barcelona striker and four-time African Player of the Year Oshoala was withdrawn from the tournament last week after sustaining a grade 2 medial collateral ligament strain in Nigeria’s opening match at the tournament against South Africa on July 4.
Now, Banyana Banyana’s biggest star and best player Kgatlana has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament after being stretchered off during the group clash against Botswana last night.
“The South African senior women’s team has been dealt a massive injury blow after forward Thembi Kgatlana was ruled out of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco on Monday,” the South African Football Association announced on their official website today.
“Kgatlana sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon in the SASOL-sponsored Banyana Banyana’s Group C match against Botswana on Sunday and had to be stretchered off the pitch in the 69th minute. She had to undergo an MRI scan which confirmed the extent of the injury on Monday.”
Banyana Banyana physician, Doctor Rodney Mokoka, confirmed the injury and said the 2018 African Player of the Year will return to South Africa for an operation.
“Thembi Kgatlana sustained a complete rupture of the left Achilles tendon against Botswana, which was confirmed by the MRI scan this morning,” Mokoka told the SAFA website today.
“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.”
Doctor Mokoka also gave an update on Jermaine Seoposenwe, who also did not finish the game against Botswana due to injury.
“Jermain Seoposenwe sustained a soft tissue injury of the ankle against Botswana. She is doing well and will be available for training tomorrow.”
Banyana, who won Nigeria’s group with nine points out of nine, return to action on Thursday when they face Tunisia in the quarter-final at the Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan, Rabat.
