Bafana can’t make the difference
South Africa (1) 1 Sibanyoni 3’ Eswatini 0
BAFANA Bafana crashed out of the 2024 Cosafa Cup after finishing as runners-up in Group A of the southern African regional competition.
South Africa beat Eswatini 1-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday but could not avoid being eliminated.
Mozambique finished as group winner after coming from a goal down to beat 10-man Botswana 3-1 at the Wolfson Stadium at the same time. With both Bafana and The Black Mambas finishing on five points and on the same goal difference, Mozambique qualified by virtue of having scored more goals in the tournament than Bafana.
SuperSport United striker Thabang Sibanyoni opened the scoring for Bafana in the third minute. The big No 9 rose the highest during a corner to nod home a Malebogo Modise delivery into the box.
There were huge concerns surrounding Helman Mkhalele’s team after they recorded two draws in their first two games. Having made three changes to his starting XI, Mkhalele would’ve been pleased to see his team fly out of the blocks.
Eswatini had the ball in the net in the 28th minute but it was controversially ruled out for offside.
Eswatini coach Sfiso Ntibane introduced attacker Bongwa Mathebula for Mbabane Swallows defender Sizolwethu Shabalala in the second half.
Ntibane was left holding his head in disbelief in the 60th minute when midfielder Andy Magagula failed to equalise with a header with the goal gaping.
News trickled into the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium that Mozambique were leading against the Zebras in the other match, which saw Bafana go in search of another goal. But it was not to be.