South Africa will play their 10th semifinal in the Hollywoodbets Cosafa Cup on Friday when they take on Zambia at the King Zwelithini Stadium and they have certainly not had it their own way down the years.
We take a look at their past tussles at this stage of the competition.
2000 - SOUTH AFRICA 0-1 ZIMBABWE
A Bafana Bafana side led by Trott Moloto squared up against a powerful Zimbabwe team and lost their semifinal 1-0. Kaitano Tembo, current manager of Richards Bay, got the only goal of the game in what is now Gqeberha.
2002 – SOUTH AFRICA 4-1 ESWATINI
Bafana met Eswatini in their last-four clash in Polokwane two years later and this time came away with a thumping win. Teboho Mokoena netted a brace to go with a penalty for Jabu Pule (now Mahlangu) and a goal for Stanton Fredericks. South Africa went on to beat Malawi in the two-legged final to record their first Cosafa Cup trophy win.
2005 – SOUTH AFRICA 2-2 ZAMBIA
A first semifinal against Zambia and despite goals from Lungi Ndlela and the late Abram Raselemane, Bafana were held to a 2-2 draw by Chipolopolo as James Chamanga and Chris Katongo netted for Zambia. South Africa had to come from two goals down, but lost an epic shoot-out 9-8 in Mmabatho.
2007 – SOUTH AFRICA 1-0 BOTSWANA
A tight tussle at the Atteridgeville Stadium was won 1-0 by South Africa thanks to Teko Modise’s lone goal. Bafana went on to get revenge over Zambia with a shootout win in the final after the teams finished goalless. Modise also scored the winning kick there.
2008 – SOUTH AFRICA 1-0 ZAMBIA
The following year and Bafana met Zambia in the semifinals, this time edging their opponents with a lone goal from Lefa Tsutsulupa. They also won the final 2-1 after beating Mozambique.
2009 – ZIMBABWE 1-1 SOUTH AFRICA
Bafana made the semifinals again but this time lost on penalties to hosts Zimbabwe. The game finished 1-1 with Lennox Bacela on target for South Africa, but a very strong Zimbabwe side with a host of players who would star in the PSL won the shoot-out.
2013 – ZAMBIA 0-0 SOUTH AFRICA
Bafana met the hosts again when the next tournament was played in 2013 once more were defeated on penalties. The match finished goalless but the home side triumphed 5-3 on spot-kicks in Ndola.
2016 – SOUTH AFRICA 5-1 ESWATINI
Still, South Africa’s biggest away win, though this game was played in neutral Windhoek. A young Bafana side preparing for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro romped to success as Thabiso Kutumela, Lebogang Phiri, Menzi Masuku (two) and Judas Moseamedi were all on target. Bafana edged Botswana 3-2 in a feisty final.
2021 – SOUTH AFRICA 3-0 MOZAMBIQUE
This game was played in the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, but still Bafana managed to put together a decent side under coach Morena Ramoreboli, who is also leading the team this year. They always looked like winners as goals from Njabulo Ngcobo, Yusuf Maart and Victor Letsoalo (a penalty) sealed a handsome success. They edged Senegal on penalties in the final after a 0-0 draw.