South Africa and Angola played out a 1-1 draw in their international friendly played at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Sunday afternoon.
Bafana Bafana were denied a fourth straight win by the Palancas Negras, who claimed the lead via Ambrosini Salvador, only to be pegged back by a penalty from Zakhele Lepasa. The hosts also needed a string of fine saves in the second half from goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
SA coach Hugo Broos made four changes to the starting XI compared to the team that beat Mozambique 2-1 last week, with Siyanda Xulu, Luke Le Roux, Kgaogelo Sekgota and Fagrie Lakay replacing Grant Kekana, Miguel Timm, Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Monnapule Saleng.
The teams traded early chances before the Palancas Negras claimed the lead on 20 minutes, with Ambrosini Salvador meeting Pedro Megue’s corner kick delivery from the right flank and glancing home a perfectly-placed header for 1-0.
Bafana looked for a quick response and almost levelled the scores on 24 minutes when Kgaogelo Sekgota was put into space down the left of the penalty area and fired a shot on target, only for goalkeeper Hugo Marques to make a sharp save.
Two minutes later, the hosts earned a penalty when Sekgota was felled in the box by a clumsy, high-footed challenge from Salvador. Zakhele Lepasa stroked home from the spot to make it 1-1 in the 28th minute.
SA looked the better team through the remainder of the first half, though they often spurned promising attacking opportunities through a lack of incisive passing – especially in the final third of the pitch.
Angola had the last clear scoring chance of the half in the final minute of regulation time, with Jonathan Buatu heading on target at a corner kick, but Williams was well-placed to make a save.
There was still time for Bafana to suffer an injury blow before the interval, as Xulu was stretchered off and replaced by Kekana.
The pace of the game dropped off significantly in the second half, and the hosts made a double change on the hour mark to bring in Hlongwane and Timm. Yet it was the visitors who should have reclaimed the lead shortly thereafter, as Cristovao Paiencia had a clear sight of goal in the penalty area but was denied by a brave save from Williams.
The Bafana keeper and captain made an even better stop just past the midway point of the second stanza, using his legs to keep out a shot from Megue that looked destined for the back of the net.
And Williams was called on again on 83 minutes, palming away a well-struck left-footed effort from Palancas Negras substitute Deivi Vieira to keep the scores level.
South Africa thought they had a chance to win the game late on after good work from Khanyisa Mayo down the left, sparking a move that ended with Hlongwane slicing wide, but the offside flag had been raised.
Both teams will be looking ahead to the next slate of Afcon qualifiers, with SA set to face Liberia in back-to-back matches in March in group K, while Angola will come up against West African heavyweights Ghana twice in a row in group E.
South Africa (1) 1 (Lepasa 28’ pen)
Angola (1) 1 (Salvador 20’)
SA: Williams, Mobbie, Xulu (Kekana 45+4’), De Reuck, Modiba, Mokoena, Le Roux, Zwane (Timm 60’), Sekgota (Saleng 71’), Lepasa (Mayo 71’), Lakay (Hlongwane 60’)
Angola: Marques, Alexandre (Hossi 90+1’), Buatu, Gaspar, Carneiro, Miguel (J. Paciencia 77’), Do Carmo (Balanga 90+1’), Megue, Jaredi (Felix 64’), Salvador (Vieira 64’), C. Paciencia (Kilola 77’)