Pitso Mosimane’s long-awaited return to the Bafana Bafana dugout got off to an incredible start on Saturday afternoon, with South Africa digging deep to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea at the Orlando Stadium.
Bafana started on the front foot, making their home advantage count right from the opening whistle at Orlando Stadium.
Mosimane’s men controlled the tempo early on, and the pressure finally told in the 30th minute when Ime Okon popped up at the back post to clinically break the deadlock.
Aubrey Modiba and Teboho Mokoena both came close to adding to the lead however Soumaila Sylla stood firm to keep the score-line at 1-0 heading into the half-time break.
The visitors however came out with a completely different energy after the interval, seizing control of the match.
That momentum paid off in the 69th minute when Al Kholood star Seydouba Cisse reacted quickest to a rebounded free-kick, rifling a shot past Ronwen Williams to level matters at 1–1.
Samukelo Kabini then repaid Pitso Mosimane for his faith in him by restoring Bafana Bafana’s lead exactly 20 minutes after he was subbed on.
The full-back finished off a lovely team move down the left, expertly finishing beyond Sylla after being played in by Yanela Mbuthuma in the 77th minute.
That’s how it ended at the Orlando Stadium with South Africa walking away with an important three points. Mosimane’s side will have little time to recover though, with another crucial qualifier looming against Eritrea over the weekend.
Saturday’s other result made group D all the more interesting. Underdogs Eritrea were mere minutes away from a historic away win before Kenya struck right at the death to salvage a dramatic 1–1 draw in Nairobi!
With the 184th-ranked nation up next over the weekend, Bafana know there’s zero room to switch off if they want to stamp their authority on Group D.
Photo: Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images
