Thalente Mbatha saved Bafana Bafana from an embarrassing by scoring an equaliser as they drew 2-2 with Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at Orlando Stadium on Friday.  

Bafana Bafana’s 17 years of unbeaten at home in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was under threat until Orlando Pirates midfielder beat Ismail Watenga in the referee’s optional time.   

Uganda spun the game around by scoring two goals in the second half after Lyle Foster had opened the scoring at Orlando Stadium in the early first half.  

In what was the fifth meeting between the two sides, with Bafana having won all four matches, including the first game for coach Hugo Broos in June at the same in 2021, Bafana looked like they would cruise through Foster when the ball ricocheted to his body and into the net. 

Before the game, there were concerned on who will be in goals for Bafana Bafana between Sipho Chaine, Veli Mothwa and Ricardo Goss. But Broos chose Mothwa, who is more experience of the others, and had kept clean sheet whenever he has been in goals for Bafana before the game. 

In defence, Broos has opted with Rushwin Dortley alongside Romania’s based Siyabonga Ngezana, with the former having captained the Bafana B side in the COSAFA Cup in June. 

South Africa showed early intention by flooding forward and taking the game to visitors. Oswin Appollis was at the heart of that in terrorrising Uganda’s defence.  

But Bafana’s first effort resulted in the goal as Foster received a defence-splitting pass from Khuliso Mudau before to toe-poke but Watenga pulled off the save, but the ball bounce back of the Burnley striker into the net in the 14^th minute.  

It seems Foster enjoys playing at this venue as he also scored twice in March last year against Liberia in the previous AFCON qualifiers.  

It is also the venue the forward knows well as he started his career with Orlando Pirates who this venue is their home ground.  

Bafana should have scored the second as Appollis set up Elias Mokwana, but the Esperance forward tried to hook the ball in the net but was unsuccessful in the 26^th minute.       

Foster came close again with another curling effort, but Watenga punched the ball away.  

However, six minutes into the second half, Uganda had spring in their legs. They evened the numbers with cracking strike by Denis Omeda, who caught Mothwa just on the edge of the box and the ball flew into the net.  

Things got worse for Bafana as Mothwa made a huge blunder by spilling the ball of Rogers Mato’s strike to score the second from range to make 2-1 two minutes later.  

Bafana Bafana tried to get back in the game and Teboho Mokoena’s free kick had a beating of the wall but went just wide. It was only big chance of note in the second half for Bafana Bafana. Coach Hugo Broos made changes in the effort to get back in the game.

The change of Mbatha proved inspiring as his speculative shot arrowed to the bottom corner after Aubrey Modiba had eluded few Ugandan players down the byline.     

Starting almost so bad in the AFCON qualifiers is something that is not new for Bafana as they lost their opening match in previous qualifiers away against Morocco.  

On that occasion, Foster had taken the lead for Bafana, but it was wiped off as they Broos’ men lost 2-1. But this time they came back to salvage a draw.  

Bafana next face South Sudan away at Juba Stadium on Tuesday.