That win, founded on an own-goal by South African defender Thulani Hlatshwayo, underlined the unconvincing nature of Southern Africa’s pair of representatives at this year’s Afcon.
When Zambia let slip a 1-0 lead and saw themselves eventually held to a 1-1 draw by the DRC to leave the race for Group B wide open on Sunday, it was left to Shakes Mashaba’s Bafana Bafana to appease the success-starved region.
The South Africans attacked ferociously towards the end of the first half, tearing down the North Africans through the flanks and exploiting the Desert Foxes’ defensive vulnerabilities with ease.
Dean Furman hit the crossbar, Sibusiso Vilakazi refused to share, while Tokelo Rantie came close to scoring and the game went to the breather in a deadlock.
In the second half, Bafana Bafana attacked with zeal. When Rantie missed a penalty that could have killed the game, the North Africans began to make forays into their opponents’ half and SA crumbled under pressure.
The floodgates were opened when Hlatshwayo committed the unbelievable to gift the Algerians in the 68th minute, guiding Yacine Brahim’s cross past his own goalkeeper, Dareen Keet. One-all. Fazi Houlam made it 2-1 four minutes later and Keet made his own gift-wrap of a goal when he let a tame shot from Islam Slimani squirm under his body. So, 3-1 it ended and Bafana were left gazing at a mountain to climb – its root being Senegal and the apex being Ghana.
Senegal beat Ghana 2-1 in the other Group B match to occupy second position.
Post published in: Football