Banyana's Gabriela Salgado ruled out for rest of the year after horrific injury
Salgado underwent a successful operation in Casablanca, where she will remain in hospital until Banyana fly back home after their third-place play-off against Ghana.
The 27-year-old was visited in hospital by her teammates along with members of Nigeria's Super Falcons, while President Cyril Ramaphosa sent her well wishes.
For more Banyana Banyana news, please visit the News24 local soccer page.
Banyana Banyana's Gabriela Salgado will be out of action for the rest of the year after suffering a mid-shaft fracture on her left leg during the team's 2-1 loss to Nigeria in the semi-finals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).
Banyana Banyana players and staff visited star Gabriela Salgado at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca, Morocco, following her successful operation on Wednesday. Nigeria's Super Falcons also visited Salgado after her injury on Tuesday. #LiveTheImpossible pic.twitter.com/UqjPSqvrkQ
— Banyana_Banyana (@Banyana_Banyana) July 24, 2025
The South African Football Association announced that Salgado underwent a successful operation in Casablanca on Wednesday.
She will remain in hospital there until the team flies back to South Africa early next week after taking part in the third-place play-off with Ghana on Friday, at the same Larbi Zaouli Stadium where they lost to Nigeria.
The final will be played in Rabat on Saturday by Nigeria and hosts Morocco.
Banyana teammates, technical team members and support staff visited Salgado in hospital after her operation on Wednesday.
Members of Nigeria's Super Falcons also paid Salgado a visit in hospital on Tuesday, presenting the 27-year-old with a signed jersey before they flew to Rabat on Wednesday to prepare for the final.
We wish Gabriela Salgado a speedy and full recovery. 💚 #WAFCON2024 #MissionX #SoarSuperFalcons pic.twitter.com/RtiBYxnwlT
— NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) July 23, 2025
'Gabi sustained a fracture of the mid-shaft of her left leg during the fixture against Nigeria and underwent a successful surgery at the Mohamed VI University Hospital in Casablanca,' said team doctor Dr Lindi Mokoena.
'She will be out of action for the rest of the year, but we are pleased that she received exceptional care from the medical team of Banyana Banyana, CAF (Confederation of African Football) and the hospital.'
Dr Lindi Mokoena.
Mokoena continued: 'We were fully confident and comfortable with the procedure being performed in Morocco and would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to CAF and the dedicated staff at the Mohamed VI University Hospital for their professionalism and outstanding support during this time.'
Today, our thoughts are with Banyana Banyana's @G_Salgado9 as we wish Gabriela a comfortable and speedy recovery from her traumatic injury in last night's WAFCON semi-final against a victorious Nigeria.
I know you're a woman of deep and public faith, Gabriela, and you're a woman…
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) July 23, 2025
Salgado received numerous well-wishes, including one from South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Her injury was an unfortunate end to her debut Wafcon appearance after missing the successful 2022 campaign due to injury.
Salgado is on the books of JVW, a club that's owned by former Banyana Banyana captain Janine van Wyk and campaigns in the Hollywoodbets Super League – Mzansi's semi-professional women's league.
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