Bafana Bafana bounced back from a lacklustre 1-1 draw with Mauritania on Friday to win the 2016 Nelson Mandela Challenge in a pulsating match played at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Bafana Bafana….(1) 1

Egypt………….0

Bafana Bafana bounced back from a lacklustre 1-1 draw with Mauritania on Friday to win the 2016 Nelson Mandela Challenge in a pulsating match played at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday evening.

Coming up against probably the best side on the African continent, Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba’s side showed purpose and determination as they brushed aside the Pharaohs of Egypt with a commanding performance.

Mpho Makola scored the all important goal inside the opening 10 minutes when he rose majestically to nod home a great cross by Mandla Masango.

The home side went into the attack from the word go and it came as little surprise when they took the lead in the early stages of the opening game.

Yet it could have been a different story had goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune not saved what looked a clear goal from Egypt after Clayton Daniels had presented the visitors with an opportunistic goalscoring opportunity after he miskicked the ball inside his own area.

But Khune, known for rising to the occasion smothered a Salah effort.

It could easily have been 2-0 when moments after South Africa’s goal, Makola’s rasping shot was tipped over the bar by the Egyptian goalkeeper.

It was not one-sided affair though as Egypt rallied back soon after this setback creating a host of chances but the Bafana Bafana backline well marshalled by outstanding Tebogo Langerman stood firm.

In the second half, Bafana Bafana once against threw everything into the attack looking for the killer second goal but were always under pressure from the Egyptians counter attacks.

But they withstood the pressure and were eventually full value of the 1-0 win and the glittering trophy which went with their evening efforts.