Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has provided an update on the injury of Themba Zwane, who was stretchered off the field in the first half of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers tie against Congo Brazzaville.
South Africa played to a 1-1 draw against Congo Brazzaville at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat on Tuesday night. Bafana Bafana opened the scoring in the 33rd minute with a goal by Elias Mokwana, while the hosts found an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, thanks to a goal by Mons Bassouamina.
Meanwhile, the 2023 AFCON bronze medalists defeated Congo with a humiliating 5-0 scoreline last week at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Eastern Cape. Teboho Mokoena netted a brace for Bafana in the home match, while Bathusi Aubaas, Lyle Foster and Iqraam Rayners scored the other goals.
After claiming a dominant win against Congo Brazzaville a few days ago, Bafana were seemingly frustrated in the away clash, struggling to play their free-flowing football to collect maximum points.
Bafana’s approach to the game took a knock when Zwane sustained an injury that saw him leave the pitch in the 40th minute. The highly-rated attacker was replaced by Orlando Pirates star Patrick Maswanganyi.
WHAT DID HUGO BROSS SAY ABOUT THEMBA ZWANE’S INJURY?
Hugo Broos has confirmed that Zwane, who recently clocked his 50th cap in Bafana colours, is likely to be sidelined for a couple of months.
“It was not a good thing for us that Themba had to go out with the injury; it’s a big Achilles injury. I’m afraid he will be out for months,” Broos said.
“So again, when you lose such an important player, it’s difficult to settle in the game that we dominated. Themba is someone who can keep the ball and give the last pass, so he was not there, and maybe that’s the reason we didn’t play well today.”
The Tembisa-born midfielder joins Thalente Mbatha, Mthobi Mvala, and Lyle Foster on the list of players out with injuries.
Foster sustained an injury in Bafana’s previous encounter, while Mbatha was withdrawn from the squad after getting injured in Pirates’ 2024 MTN8 final against Stellenbosch FC over a week ago.
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