Bafana Bafana missed out on the COSAFA Cup title after losing 3-0 to Angola in the final on Sunday afternoon.
COSAFA Cup
Result: Angola 3-0 South Africa
Date: 15 June 2025
Venue: Free State Stadium
South African coach Vela Khumalo made just one change from the semi-final win over Comoros, as Mduduzi Shabalala dropped to the bench with Vuyo Letlapa recalled to the starting line-up.
Both semi-final encounters were played at a lively tempo, but the first half in the final was quite the opposite as both nations were feeling each other in the opening 20 minutes.
In face, the game's first bit of goal-mouth action arrived in the 24th minute when Kabelo Dlamini did well to pick out Ime Okon, who saw his header crash against the crossbar with goalkeeper Neblu well-beaten.
However, Angola took the lead three minutes before the halftime break when Laurindo Aurelio rose above his marker and sent a powerful header into the back of the net for his seventh goal of the tournament.
With Bafana pushing for the equaliser, they were hit on the break as Angola doubled their lead in the 61st minute when Aurelio finished off sweeping passing move to claim his eighth goal in the competition.
The South Africans nearly pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute when Kamogelo Sebelebele did well to pick out Boitumelo Radiopane, who saw his first-time volley brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Neblu.
However, Angola ended any hopes of a Bafana comeback eight minutes later when Felicio Joao found the back of the net with a lovely free-kick from 20 yards that left Mbanjwa with no chance.
The Angolans moved the ball around with a lot ease in the closing stage as they ran down the clock and claimed the COSAFA Cup for the second year in a row and fifth overall.
Here's how they lined up:
Angola: Cipriano, Jonathan, Fernando, Salvador, Francisco, Nanque, Nteka, Aurelio, Manuek, Gaspar, Cafumana
South Africa: Mbanjwa, Okon, McCarthy, Letlapa, Dithejane, Mngoyama, Moralo, Mkhize, Sebelebele, Dlamini, Radiopane
Subs: Mpoto, Msani, Mfolozi, Duba, Ramabu, Letsoalo, Shabalala, Gcaba, Nemtajela, Barns, Johnson, Mcaba
