Thembi Kgatlana ruled out of WAFCON 2022
Thembi Kgatlana ruled out of WAFCON 2022, After striker Thembi Kgatlana’s injury forced her to withdraw from the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Banyana Banyana suffered a severe setback in their bid for a first-ever championship.
According to the Banyana Banyana Doctor Rodney Mokoka, the 2018 African Player of the Year, who led all scorers at the 2018 edition with five goals, suffered a complete rupture of the left achilles tendon in South Africa’s final Group C match against Botswana on Sunday night at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.
Thembi’s left achilles tendon completely ruptured, according to Mokoka’s explanation, which was supported by this morning’s MRI exam. She will, regrettably, miss the whole WAFCON 2022 competition. She is scheduled to have surgery in South Africa.
Thembi Kgatlana ruled out of WAFCON 2022
“Achieving specific benchmarks will serve as a roadmap for healing. She will, of course, undergo a thorough rehabilitation process, but the sooner we reach those benchmarks, the sooner she may return to the playing field. She will begin jogging in around three months, return to non-sport after 16 to 21 weeks, and then resume contact sports 20 to 24 weeks from now, according to Mokoka.
Kgatlana, 26, who just joined with Racing Louisville in the NWSL in the United States, scored her first goal at WAFCON 2022 against Burundi in their second group game. Kgatlana has been a crucial part of their offense, running rings around defenders and unsettling goalkeepers.
After record four-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala of Nigeria sustained a Grade 2 Medial Collateral Ligament injury in their opening against South Africa a week ago, Kgatlana is the second significant player to be ruled out of the WAFCON. She just traveled to Spain for surgery.
READ Timu Zilizofuzu Robo Fainali Ya WAFCON 2022
On Thursday in Rabat, South Africa plays Tunisia in the quarterfinal round with bad news of Thembi Kgatlana ruled out of WAFCON 2022.
