Banyana Banyana star forward Thembi Kgatlana has said she has undergone surgery successfully for a left leg injury.
The 26-year-old suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon at the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals in Morocco earlier this month.
She confirmed via her tweeter handle on Friday to have undergone the operation.
“By the grace of God, my surgery was successful. Thank you for your heartfelt messages and unconditional love; they have been my strength and comfort. The Lord has been the centre of this injury, and he gave me internal peace,” she tweeted @Kgtlanathe1st.
The striker was ruled out of the rest of the WAFCON tournament after the injury in a Group C match against Botswana.
The NWSL club Racing Louisville FC’s new signing was stretchered off in the 69th minute of the match, which Banyana Banyana won 1-0.
Kgatlana eventually returned to South Africa for the operation, just when Banyana Banyana were about to face Tunisia in a quarterfinal game at the Stade Prince Moulay Al Hassan in Rabat.
She joined Racing Louisville on a year-long contract recently after leaving Atletico Madrid in Spain.
The South African has made a return to the American League, where she featured for the Houston Dash in 2018 before moving to Spain.
Kgatlana tallied seven goals and three assists as Atletico Madrid finished fourth in the Primera División and reach the Supercopa Feminina final.
Banyana Banyana won all group stage games to qualify for the quarterfinals all the way to the final.
South Africa date Morocco in the WAFCON final at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday night [22h00].
Coach Desiree Ellis should be hoping to atone for the loss her charges suffered in the previous edition of the continental football showpiece to the Super Falcons of Nigeria.
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