Bafana Bafana’s quest to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco suffered a setback after a 1-1 draw against Congo Brazzaville in the return leg of their Group K qualifier on Tuesday.

The result means that Bafana will have to wait until November’s two matches to secure their place in the tournament.

A victory would have placed Bafana alongside Morocco, DR Congo, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Algeria as qualified teams. However, the draw leaves them second in Group K on eight points, two points behind Uganda, who defeated South Sudan 2-1 in the other group match on Tuesday.

Bafana entered the match with high hopes after their 5-0 win over Congo in the first leg. Despite early dominance, they struggled to maintain their momentum throughout the game.

The absence of Lyle Foster, who picked up an injury in the first leg, was felt by the team. Elias Mokwana opened the scoring for Bafana in the 33rd minute, but Congo’s Andre Bassouamini equalized just before halftime.

The second half saw a more competitive Congo team, who pressed Bafana and created several chances. Bafana’s offensive efforts were hampered by the forced substitution of Themba Zwane, who has been a key player for the team.

With the draw, Bafana Bafana now faces a must-win situation in their remaining qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan. But a win in one of those matches next month will see them book their spot in the AFCON finals.