Bafana Bafana have been eliminated from the COSAFA Cup despite beating Eswatini in their final Group A clash.
COSAFA Cup
Result: South Africa 1-0 Eswatini
Date: 02 July 2024
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Coach Helman Mkhalele made two changes in the attack after Saturday's goalless draw against Botswana, with Ashley Cupido and Jaedin Rhodes getting their first starts of the campaign.
Bafana got off to the perfect start when Thabang Sibanyoni rose above his marker to head home a corner at the near post for his first goal of the competition inside the opening five minutes.
The early goal livened up the contest on both ends, with Sibanyoni going close to a second goal with a header at the far post while Eswatini's Mcolisi Manana pulled his strike wide of the upright at the other end.
Eswatini had the ball in the back of the net after 28 minutes when Ayanda Gadlela got behind the Bafana defence before rounding Mondli Mpoto to finish into an empty net, but the celebrations were cut short due to the offside flag.
That proved to be Eswatini's final clear-cut opening at Mpoto's goal in the first half, but they remained a threat as Thubelihle Mavuso pulling the strings from the middle of the park, while Cupido squandered a glorious chance for the hosts on the stroke of halftime.
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Eswatini carried that momentum into the second half and should have equalised just before the bour mark but Magagula Junior somehow headed over the crossbar with open goal at his mercy from six yards out.
Bafana nearly put their opponents out of their misery in the 72nd minute when Asenele Velebayi pulled the ball back for Sibanyoni, who failed to direct his volley on target while Cupido was denied by goalkeeper Xolani Gama.
Eswatini threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser but they were met a solid Mpoto between the sticks, with the Bafana shot-stopper pulling off some vital saves in the final ten minutes.
Bafana, however, could not add to their tally, which proved to be detrimental as they finished second in the group and now miss out on the semi-finals.
Here's how they lined up:
Bafana Bafana: Mpoto, Matuludi, Moloisane, Dortley, Modise, Bern, Brooks, Ashley Cupido, Rhodes, Velebayi, Sibanyoni
Subs: Xulu, Mzimela, Thikazi, Titus, Kammies, Mcaba, Mojela, Van Wyk, Moremi, K. Cupido, Poggenpoel
