Bafana Bafana struggled to break a Ghana B side, but a Sipho Mbule stunner spiced up the afternoon for Hugo Broos’s men to seal a 1-0 victory in an international friendly match at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto on Tuesday.
With the Black Galaxies stubborn for the better part of the afternoon, exposing South Africa’s attacking frailties, Mbule atoned for that in the second half.
What might matter much for Broos is his side avoiding posting a morale-sapping result ahead of their departure for the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco on Wednesday. It was an afternoon the Belgian marked 50 games in charge of South Africa and was happy it did not end in frustration.
As he handed some players international football minutes, the former Cameroon coach opted to drop from his starting line-up familiar faces like captain Ronwen Williams, Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Teboho Mokoena, Khuliso Mudau and Oswin Appollis.
That paved the way for Siwelele FC goalkeeper Ricardo Goss, Khulumani Ndamane, Thabang Matuludi and Tshepang Moremi to start.
MBULE BAFANA’S BIGGEST THREAT FOR GHANA
Bafana’s first most realistic chance came 11 minutes into the contest when Mbule rose highest but headed just wide off a free-kick delivery from Mohau Nkota. Mbule was back 10 minutes later and shot off target from inside the box with Nkota being involved again.
A busy Nkota then watched his free kick go just over the bar just before the half-hour mark. The hosts continued to dominate, and Moremi targeted the top right corner but missed with five minutes to the halftime break.
Nkota’s low shot then drew a save from Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Osei on the cusp of halftime. Mbule’s promises then came to reality in the 57th minute when he unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box to give Osei no chance and hand Bafana the lead.
The West Africans almost hit back with 12 minutes to go when Emmanuel Annor shrugged off Ndamane and beat substitute goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, only for his grounder to crash against the woodwork.
Ghana were now alive in the dying stages of the match, and Chaine was forced to make a brilliant save five minutes from time.
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