Bafana Bafana boosted their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations after thrashing Namibia 4-0 on Sunday evening.
Africa Cup of Nations
Result: South Africa 4-0 Namibia
Date: 21 January 2024
Venue: Stade Amadou Gon Coulibaly
Bafana made two changes from their defeat against Mali, as Thapelo Morena and Grant Kekana were brought on, in an all-Mamelodi Sundowns line-up, except Evidence Makgopa, Sphephelo Sithole and Percy Tau.
Hugo Broos' charges almost fell behind early on after Peter Shalulile got the better of Kekana in a one-on-one battle in the box but fired his shot wide, with only Ronwen Williams to beat.
South Africa needed a piece of fortune to go ahead on 14 minutes after Tau opened the scoring from the spot-kick after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) spotted a handball by Riaan Hanamub in the box.
Namibia missed a golden chance after 20 minutes and were punished a moment later, as Themba Zwane doubled the lead for South Africa with a first-time curler at the near post after a cut-back by Morena.
Broos' men were confident on the ball going forward after that and Sithole had a big opportunity ten minutes before the break but could not convert a free header at the back post.
The Brave Warriors were tempted to go forward and conceded on a transition just before the interval after Zwane added a third goal for Bafana and completed his brace with another composed finish after combining with Evidence Makgopa.
Bafana looked to catch Namibia from counter-attacks from the break as Morena had a big chance early in the second stanza after racing through on goal but he fired his shot straight at shot-stopper Lloyd Kazapua.
Collin Benjamin's troops still had a fight in them as on 64 minutes Bethuel Muzeu had a good chance after going through in the box but he fired his shot wide.
Broos eventually made changes with 20 minutes to go, as he rested Zwane and Sithole and brought on Thapelo Maseko and Thabang Monare in their places respectively.
The changes made immediately difference for South Africa, as Maseko secured the fourth goal with a thumping shot that Kazapua could only help into his own net after through ball over the top.
Bafana still threatened in the dying minutes, as they secured a thumping win and moved up to second in Group E, one point behind leaders Mali.
Here's how they lined up:
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Mvala, Modiba, Morena, Sithole, Mokoena, Zwane, Tau, Makgopa
Subs: Goss, Mothwa, Mobbie, Mashego, Xulu, Maseko, Sibisi, Monare, Mayambela, Lepasa, Adams, Appollis
Namibia: Kazapua, Haukongo, Nyambe, Amutenya, Iimbondi, Petrus, Hanamub, Shitembi, Tijueza, Hotto, Shalulile
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