Visiting Angola held Bafana Bafana to a 1-1 draw in an exciting friendly match played at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
It was Bafana’s second international friendly match in three days. Bafana coach Hugo Broos made four changes to the team that beat Mozambique 2-1 at the same venue on Thursday.
Siyanda Xulu came in for Grant Kekana, while Luke Le Roux replaced Miguel Timm as Kgaogelo Sekgota got the nod ahead of Bongokuhle Hlongwane.
Egypt-based forward Fagrie Lakay started in Monnapule Saleng’s place. However, Xulu couldn’t finish the game as he picked up an injury late in the first half, forcing Broos to bring back Kekana.
The hosts dominated possession for much of the first half. Mamelodi Sundowns midfield workhorse Teboho Mokoena could have opened the scoresheet in the 11th minute, but Hugo Marques saved his trademark strike.
The visitors went ahead in the 20th minute when Zini [Ambrossini Salvador] outjumped Mokoena to nod the ball home from a corner kick.
The former Cape Town City goalkeeper, Marques, then denied Kgaogelo Sekgota from close range in the 23rd minute.
Bafana’s equaliser came in the 26th minute when Nyiko Mobbie flighted a cross into the box. Sekgota was impeded as he tried chesting the ball down, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Zakhele Lepasa, who was making his fifth Bafana appearance, stepped up as he sought his first goal in Bafana colours. From the spot, the Orlando Pirates man made no mistake.
The coach made early substitutes in the second half, with Timm and Hlongwane coming on for Themba Zwane and Lakay at the hour mark.
In the 68th minute, Ronwen Williams pulled off a save from close range as Angola started surging forward in search of a winner.
The Bafana captain, Williams, was on hand again in the 82nd minute, pulling off another save.
Bafana used the international friendly matches to prepare for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. They play Liberia in March.
