Already-qualified Bafana Bafana moved top of Group K after defeating Uganda 2-0 in their penultimate 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday afternoon.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier
Result: Uganda 0-2 South Africa
Date: 15 November 2024
Venue: Mandela National Stadium
Qualification was secured for both nations before Friday's clash, after third-place Congo lost to South Sudan in the other Group K clash no Thursday afternoon.
Coach Hugo Broos handed starts to Luke le Roux, Mothobi Mvala and Evidence Makgopa as the three changes from the draw with Congo in their last qualifier, as Themba Zwane misses out due to an injury he picked up last month.
The game was quite cagey in the early stages of the encounter, with neither nation showing any great intent to bag the opening goal as clear-cut chances were hard to come by.
That proved to be the trend for most of the first period as Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams barely had a touch of the ball or a save to make in the opening 45 minutes.
Broos' men shade the possession in the latter stages of the first half, but were ultimately let down by the final ball into the box as Makgopa did not have much to work with in the first period.
Bafana only needed three minutes into the second half to get the opening goal, as substitute Thapelo Morena won possession in the Uganda box before slotting past Ismail Watenga with their first shot on target.
Broos opted to freshen up the pack on 69 minutes, as Fawaaz Basadien, Iqraam Ryaners and Patrick Maswanganyi were introduced in place of Aubrey Modiba, Le Roux and Makgopa for the final stages.
The changes paid off as Rayners turned provider to pick out Maswanganyi in he box, before the Orlando Pirates star turned brilliantly in the box before firing into the far corner with a lovely strike for his first international goal.
Bafana would go on to see out the remaining stages of the second half to claim the win, meaning they are the only team left in Group K with an unbeaten run heading into the final game against South Sudan on Tuesday.
Here's how they lined up:
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Mvala, Dortley, Modiba, Aubaas, Mokoena, Le Roux, Mokwana, Appollis, Makgopa
Subs: Chaine, Stephens, Mobbie, Basadien, Mbatha, Maswanganyi, Mofokeng, Ryaners, Titus, Sibisi, Ngezana, Morena
