Bafana start AFCON qualifiers campaign with 2-2 draw against Uganda
Bafana Bafana began their CAF 2025 AFCON qualifiers campaign with a 2-2 draw against Uganda in Group K at Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Friday night.
Below are the talking points from this entertaining encounter.
RUSHWIN DORTLEY STARTS ALONGSIDE SIYABONGA NGEZANA AT THE BACK
Bafana head coach Hugo Broos started with a surprising pairing of Rushwin Dortley and Siyabonga Ngezana at the centre-back. Many would have expected Grant Kekana to start the game with Ngezana.
This was the first game for Dortley in Bafana colours, and his performance in the defence was satisfying until Uganda came back to score two goals.
Meanwhile, Veli Mothwa started between the sticks in the absence of the injured Ronwen Williams, who is the Bafana captain.
BAFANA BAFANA UNBEATEN IN THE LAST FIVE MEETINGS WITH UGANDA
Bafana are uneaten in all five previous meetings with Uganda, including tonight’s showdown at Orlando Stadium.
In those five meetings, Broos’ charges won three and drew two in the process.
GOAL SCORERS OF THE DAY FROM BOTH SIDES
Lyle Foster showed that experience cannot be bought, as he was on the scoresheet for South Africa tonight.
The Orlando Pirates product broke the deadlock in the 14th minute of the showpiece, putting Bafana in front against ‘The Cranes’.
In the second stanza, Uganda came back stronger to secure two goals. Denis Omedi scored the equaliser in the 51st minute.
Rogers Mato gave the Ugandan a lead two minutes after the restart, breaking South African fans’ hearts.
Little did they know, Orlando Pirates star Thalente Mbatha found the back of the net in the last minutes of the game, giving Bafana a comeback to secure a point at home.
FANS TURN-OUT
The people of Soweto failed to replicate Mangaung’s turn-out when Bafana faced Zimbabwe in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Toyota Stadium in June 2024.
However, the fans who managed to show up at Orlando Stadium made sure that their abundant roars and rumbles in the stands were priceless.
According to the Ticketpro website, the lower 1 Block 28 was sold out.
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