Bafana Bafana secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Eswatini in a tense encounter that concluded Group A play at the COSAFA Cup.

The match, held at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Tuesday, saw the South Africans under significant pressure from Eswatini.

Prior to the game, Group A was wide open, with all four teams tied on two points after two matches each. South Africa had drawn their previous games 1-1 against Mozambique and 0-0 against Botswana. This meant they needed a win against Eswatini and win the group to progress to the knockout stages.

The necessity for victory was mirrored by Eswatini’s situation. Both teams started with attacking intent, and Bafana Bafana found the breakthrough early. In the third minute, Thabang Sibanyoni rose above the defense to head home a corner from Gadinkame Modise, giving Helman Mkhalele’s side the perfect start.

However, the South Africans soon retreated, allowing Eswatini to control possession. Eswatini had a goal disallowed for offside while Ashley Cupido missed a clear chance for Bafana Bafana just before halftime.

The second half saw Eswatini dominate play. Andy Magagula squandered a golden opportunity with a wayward header, much to the frustration of his coach, Lucky Ntibane. Eswatini continued to pile pressure on the South Africans, who relied heavily on goalkeeper Mondli Mpoto’s numerous saves to preserve their lead.

Despite Eswatini’s dominance, Bafana Bafana held on for the narrow win to finish second in the group. However, the victory saw them eliminated and Mozambique took the first spot to go through after beating Botswana in the other game.