Bafana outclass Cranes to go top of Group K

South Africa claimed a well-deserved 2-0 win over Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group K match at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday afternoon.

The win saw Bafana Bafana climb up to the top of the group standings and they will look to conclude a successful qualifying campaign with a victory over South Sudan in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The Cranes, on the other hand, slipped down to the second spot having also qualified for the Afcon finals and they will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they take on Congo in Brazzaville on Tuesday.

@BafanaBafana dominate Uganda with a 2-0 win! 💥 Washa 🔥#BafanaBafana #SechabaKaofela pic.twitter.com/N9ISka2KUU

— PEFMO_ZA (@pefmo_za) November 15, 2024

The two teams struggled to create clear-cut chances in the opening 15 minutes of the encounter with most of the ball being played in the middle of the park where there was a battle for control of the midfield.

Bafana Bafana grew gradually into the match and Cranes goalkeeper Ismail Watenga was called into action in the 26th minute - coming out to gather Aubrey Modiba's attempted through pass for Elias Mokwana. 

The score was 0-0 at halftime.

Mokwana was pulled out by coach Hugo Broos at halftime and replaced by Thapelo Morena, who proved to be an inspired substitute as the speedster scored to make it 1-0 to South Africa in the 49th minute after pouncing onto a poor back-pass.

Broos's substitutes were proving to be very effective. Patrick Maswanganyi then sealed South Africa's 2-0 victory over Uganda when he netted in the 89th minute after being set up by fellow substitute Iqraam Rayners.

Uganda 0

South Africa 2 (Morena 49', Maswanganyi 89')

UGANDA: Watenga, Ssemakula, Kayondo, Mugabi, Awany (Lwaliwa 46'), Lwanga (Byaruhanga 56'), Aucho, Mato, Omedi (Kiwanuka 56'), Ssemugabi (Mukwala 56'), Okello (Mutyaba 63').

SOUTH AFRICA: Williams, Mudau, Modiba (Basadien 71'), Mvala, Dortley, Mokoena, Aubaas, Le Roux (Maswanganyi 71'), Appollis (Mbatha 84'), Mokwana (Morena 46'), Makgopa (Rayners 71').