South Africa got their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign off to a winning start, as they defeated Guinea 2-1 in a Group D match at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Ime Okon and Samukelo Kabini took Bafana Bafana to a hard-earned victory in the first match of Pitso Mosimane’s second tenure as permanent coach, with Syli National getting on the score sheet via Seydouba Cisse.
FIRST-HALF DOMINANCE AND BREAKTHROUGH
Guinea looked the more dangerous team in the opening stages, with Aliou Balde notably driving past Aubrey Modiba in the seventh minute before shooting from a tight angle – South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was forced into a sharp save, and the rebound was turned behind for a corner kick.
But after that initial scare, it was virtually all Bafana Bafana in attack, with Relebohile Mofokeng missing out on a great chance to open the scoring in the 12th minute after a defensive error from Lancinet Kourouma. The SA no.10 dragged a low shot wide with only goalkeeper Soumaila Sylla to beat.
However, the breakthrough arrived in the 30th minute. A short corner kick was worked to Teboho Mokoena – he provided an in-swinging cross from the left flank toward the far post which produced an effort on goal that was initially blocked, before Ime Okon drove home the rebound for 1-0.
Bafana had chances to add to their advantage in the remainder of the first half – through Aubrey Modiba, Mokoena, Thapelo Maseko and Mofokeng, but none were taken – while Guinea came close to levelling the game just before the break when the dangerous Serhou Guirassy drove a shot from a free kick just over the target.
SECOND-HALF DRAMA AND SUBSTITUTES COMBINE
The second half was a more cagey and measured affair, and Guinea took advantage of the growing tension with a controversial equaliser in the 69th minute. A Guirassy free kick struck the Bafana wall and fell kindly for Seydouba Cisse, who easily tucked home from close range for 1-1 – though replays suggested the goal scorer was offside when the initial shot was taken.
Yet Bafana upped their game and reclaimed the lead in the 77th minute thanks to a superb combination from two substitutes: Yanela Mbuthuma provided a great touch to put Samukelo Kabini in on goal, and the Norwegian-based player coolly swept home a left-footed shot to make it 2-1.
The match remained in the balance, and Guinea had a chance for a second equaliser in the 88th minute when a ball fell kindly for Guirassy on the edge of the box, but his effort sailed high and wide.
Bafana also threatened a third goal in injury time when Mokoena’s cross from the right picked out Mbuthuma, but the striker was unable to make clean connection and direct an effort on target.
The teams will be back in AFCON qualifying action next midweek, with South Africa away to Eritrea in Cairo on Wednesday 30 September, and Guinea at home to Kenya the following day.
South Africa (1) 2 (I. Okon 30’, S. Kabini 77’)
Guinea (0) 1 (S. Cisse 69’)
SA: R. Williams, K. Sebelebele, I. Okon, O. Makhanya, A. Modiba (S. Kabini 57’), Y. Sithole, T. Mokoena, O. Appollis (T. Morena 82’), R. Mofokeng (B. Aubaas 82’), T. Maseko (L. Singh 82’), I. Rayners (Mbuthuma 68’)
Guinea: So. Sylla, A. Keita, S. Sow, I. Fofana (I. Diakate 63’), I. Moriba (L. Diaby-Fadiga 63’), A.K. Traore (A. Camara 75’), S. Guirassy, A. Balde, L. Kourouma (O. Diabate 46’), S. Cisse (O. Camara 85’), Se. Sylla