Bafana’s AFCON Prep Hindered By Frustrating Draw Against Tanzania
Bafana Bafana’s preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) took a hit as they played out a goalless draw against Tanzania in a friendly match at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening.
Despite dominating the proceedings and creating numerous scoring opportunities, Hugo Broos’ side failed to capitalize on their chances, leaving them frustrated in Polokwane.
The match began brightly for Bafana Bafana, with the South African side creating several promising attacks in the opening 10 minutes. However, their inability to convert these chances into goals proved costly.
Tanzania, on the other hand, adopted a more cautious approach, making an early substitution in the 27th minute, introducing Selemani Allie for Denis Prosper.
Despite the lack of goals, the match was not devoid of excitement. Ashley Cupido and Thalente Mbatha combined well in the buildup to a shot that sailed over the bar, while Oswin Appollis’ effort from outside the box was denied by an impressive save from Tanzanian goalkeeper Suleiman Ali just before halftime.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Bafana Bafana dominating possession and creating chances but unable to find the back of the net.
Broos made several substitutions in an attempt to unlock the Tanzanian defense, introducing Renaldo Leaner, Relebohile Mofokeng, Mohau Nkota, Luke Le Roux, and Sinoxolo Kwayiba, but none of these players could make the difference.
The draw may not have yielded a win, but Broos would be satisfied with his team’s performance, particularly the contributions of new players. Youngsters Khulumani Ndamane and Simphiwe Selepe impressed, with Ndamane winning the man-of-the-match award for his stellar performance.
Bafana Bafana will wrap up this FIFA break with the final friendly against Mozambique on Tuesday at the same venue. This match will serve as a crucial test ahead of their AFCON campaign, and the team will be looking to end their warm-up games on a high note.
With the AFCON looming, Broos will be keen to fine-tune his team’s performance and address the issues that plagued them against Tanzania.
The draw against Tanzania may not have been ideal, but it provided valuable lessons that can be applied in the upcoming tournament.
