Bafana
Bafana has qualified for the quarter-finals of the Orange Africa Cup of Nations
South Africa 2013 following a thrilling 2-2 draw with Morocco in Durban on
Sunday, 27 January.
Playing
in front of a capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium, Bafana Bafana showed resilience
and a fighting spirit hardly seen in recent years, twice coming from behind to
level matters.
Bafana
Bafana head coach Gordon Igesund fielded the same line-up that started against
Angola after striker Tokelo Rantie passed a late fitness test.
But
the vociferous Durban crowd was silenced in the 10th minute when El Adoua put
the North Africans ahead. The hosts had to wait until the 71st minute when a
brilliant goal by May Mahlangu brought Bafana back into the picture.
While
the Bafana Bafana supporters were still celebrating the superbly taken goal,
Morocco restored the lead through Hafidi.
But
with their never-say-day spirit, South Africa was back on level terms through a
Siyabonga Sangweni goal three minutes from time.
It
was the tall defender, who hails from the coastal city’s second goal in as many
matches having scored the opening goal in the 2-0 win over Angola.
Earlier,
the North Africans had numerous chances to score but found goalkeeper Itumeleng
Khune in fine form which earned him the Orange Man of the Match award.
“We
feel very proud; we have achieved our first objective in what was a very tough
match. We are done with the group stages and we are looking forward to our next
match. For the next few hours we are just going to relax and unwind. I feel
very proud for the players, and I am also happy that South Africans were very
proud and happy. Without their support we would not be where we are today,”
said coach Gordon Igesund.
“The
most important thing is that we won and we did so against a team that had
nothing to lose which is always dangerous.”
After
the match, Bafana Bafana had surprise visit in their dressing room from a
high-powered delegation made up of The Honourable Fikile Mbalula (Minister of
Sport and Recreation SA); Dr Zweli Mkhize (Premier of KZN); Kirsten Nematandani
(SAFA President); Dr Irvin Khoza (SAFA vice-president and PSL Chairman); Dr
Danny Jordaan (SAFA vice-President); Dennis Mumble (SAFA Acting CEO); Patrice
Motsepe (President and owner of Mamelodi Sundowns FC) and Happy Ntshingila
(Supersport International).
The
delegation showered Bafana Bafana with praises for a great performance in
securing qualification to the next round.
With
the draw, South Africa, who last reached the AFCON quarter-finals in Mali in 2002,
finished top of Group A. Bafana Bafana collected five points in their three
matches, tied with debutants Cape Verde Islands on the same number of points
but the host nation has a better goal difference. Morocco and Angola finished
on three points and one respectively and were eliminated from the tournament.
Cape Verde Islands came from behind to defeat Angola 2-1 in Port Elizabeth.
South
Africa will face the Group B runners-up at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on
Saturday.
Kick-off
is at 20h30.
The
host nation will be without the services of defender Anele Ngcongca who picked
up his second yellow card and has been suspended for the quarter-finals.
Cape
Verde Islands will take on Group B winners in the quarter-finals in an earlier
kickoff of 17h00 in Port Elizabeth.
