South Africa………… (0) 1
Teboho Mokoena 79′
Ivory Coast………….. 0
12 November 2019 — South Africa’s National Under-23 side moved up to the number one spot in their U-23 AFCON Group B standings, following a 1-0 over Ivory Coast at the Al Salam Stadium on Tuesday night.
A cracker of a free kick taken by Teboho Mokoena in the 79th minute was enough to give South Africa’s National Under-23 side the desired result following their 0-0 draw in their opening group match against Zambia.
They are now sitting on four points, a point ahead of Nigeria’s National Under-23 side who now have three points in the bag after two matches played.
In this encounter, Coach David Notoane made four changes to the side which featured in their opening Group B match against their SADC counterparts.
Eventual man of the match winner, Teboho Mokoena, was paired up with fellow SuperSport United teammate Sipho Mbule in midfield; while Lyle Foster started alongside his cousin brother Luther Singh up in the final third.
The inclusion of these four players in the starting role played a massive part in how South Africa managed their opponents in both midfield and defence, while creating goal-scoring opportunities of their own pressing forward.
In the first half, Foster was presented with two goal-scoring opportunities, however, was just unlucky to miss both of them by a whisker.
Earlier on, just two minutes into the match, Singh’s goal-bound free kick take was cleared away by the opposition’s goalkeeper for a corner.
In the second period of the match, coach Notoane made three changes which saw Kobamelo Kodisang, Athenkosi Dlala and Keletso Makgalwa; coming in for Grant Margeman, Sipho Mbule and Kamohelo Mahlatsi respectively.
These three changes added more fuel to South Africa’s attack which only lacked a goal to complement their fine showing which was evident on the field.
And when the referee awarded a free kick to South Africa with just 11 minutes left on the clock before the stroke of fulltime, Mokoena stepped up and rattled the back of the net with a stunner of a shot.