17 November 2019 – Molefi Ntseki’s Bafana Bafana responded in typical fashion from the Ghana disappointment as they downed visiting Sudan 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nation Cameroon 2021 match played at a sunny Orlando Stadium on Sunday (17 November 2019).
The home team could have buried the Sudanese under a barrage of goals but somehow the visitors survived an onslaught from the first whistle till the final.
To show how South Africa dominated the visitors, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was never tested throughout the 90 minutes, save for the header from an offside position midway through the second half.
Ntseki’s side was full value for the three points, a good return after losing 2-0 to Ghana on Thursday away from home.
Man of the match Lebogang Phiri’s piledriver on the stroke of half-time was the difference in this entertaining encounter.
Bafana Bafana could have taken an early lead when Lebo Phiri back-heeled to Mokotjo whose cross was missed by Mothiba before Morena’s shot from open play went wide.
Moments later, Serero’s first time shot was saved by Sudan keeper Ali Abdalla Aboshren for a corner as the home side applied early pressure.
Mothiba then had a header saved again on the 11th minute before Serero unleashed a long range shot which just went over the bar.
Mothiba’s attempt inside the box was again saved by Ali as Sudan somehow continued to survive.
A good combination between Tau and Mokotjo saw the later firing a first time shot but his attempt was saved by the busy Sudan keeper as the hosts searched desperately for the opening goal.
Lebo Phiri then sent Orlando into raptures with a cracking goal at the stroke of half-time, a deserved lead for the rampant Bafana Bafana.
It was a dominant first half by Bafana Bafana and the solitary goal was a minimum reward for their first half work-rate.
The goal meant Sudan had to open up searching for the equalising goal in the second half.
Bafana Bafana continued to pile on the pressure in the second half searching for the second goal but the Sudan defence refused to budge.
Coach Molefi Ntseki then brought in Lebogang Manyama and Kermit Erasmus for Phiri and Mothiba respectively while the tiring Serero was replaced by Bradley Grobler.
Erasmus could have made an early impression but his powerful effort was again saved by the Sudanese busy keeper.
Grobler had the ball into the back of the net but was ruled offside as Bafana Bafana still chased the safety second goal.