Isabella Ludwig targets bigger impact as Banyana Banyana prepare for Morocco clash

The 23-year-old midfielder delivered an energetic performance in her first start of the tournament as South Africa edged Burkina Faso 1-0 on Tuesday to secure a place in the last eight. Thembi Kgatlana's first-half strike sealed the victory, setting up a repeat of the 2022 WAFCON final against Morocco in Rabat on Saturday.

Although Ludwig was pleased with her display, the Mamelodi Sundowns star admitted she left the pitch feeling she could have contributed even more.

"I'm really happy that I was able to start the game. It would have been even better if I had scored because I had a few opportunities that I should have put away, but it was still a good start for me," said the Downs ladies player.

"Hopefully, on a personal level, I can build on this performance and get my name on the scoresheet. The finish line is getting closer, so it is important that we keep pushing. This is a positive step forward and we want to keep going."

Ludwig believes qualifying for the knockout stages has given the defending champions a timely confidence boost after an inconsistent group campaign that saw them recover from an opening defeat with a draw before finally claiming victory.

"I think the most important thing is that we qualified for the quarter-finals. It was a tough game and became a little scrappy towards the end, but the main thing is that we are through," she said.

"Now it is about rectifying our mistakes and making sure we keep progressing in the tournament. It has not been an easy road, but I think we are moving in the right direction. We started with a loss, then a draw and now a win, so things are improving."

Banyana now face a stern test against tournament hosts Morocco in a repeat of the 2022 final, which South Africa won 2-1. Victory on Saturday would not only book a place in the semi-finals but also secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.