Bafana Bafana failed to get the much-needed win that would have qualified them to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a 1-1 draw away to Congo on Tuesday.
South Africa could not bring out their ‘A’ game at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat in Brazzaville as witnessed at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday when they thrashed the same opponent 5-0.
Afrik-Foot highlights the key takeaways from the match that has left South Africa needing one win from two matches to seal a place at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mokoena & Mudau embarrass Mngqithi
Khuliso Mudau and Teboho Mokoena are among players who came out of the two qualifiers against Congo with top marks.
Mokoena scored twice in the first leg on Friday and nearly made it three on Tuesday while Mudau was good defensively and going forward in both legs.
It raises questions why Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has dropped the two from the squad, failing to utilise them in the Brazilians’ five matches, prior to the international break.
All eyes will be on Mngqithi from this weekend to see how he handles the situation given how the duo have responded in national team colours.
Bafana extend poor record on the road
South Africa remain unbeaten over 90 minutes in 14 games dating back to AFCON 2023 but their away record is still not impressive.
Bafana Bafana only have the 3-2 victory over minnows South Sudan as the positive in qualification matches away even though the victory was secured in the final minutes.
The draw against Congo followed a 1-1 stalemate against Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier in June while there was another similar result against Andorra before a 3-3 with Algeria in friendly matches in March.
That will need to change if Broos has to seal qualification to both World Cup and AFCON 2025 and it is Uganda in Kampala up next in November.
Sithole badly missed
While Bafana Bafana did not feel threatened at home on Friday, the absence of Sphephelo Sithole was felt on Tuesday when Congo turned on the style.
Mokoena has formed a good central midfield partnership with Sithole and in his absence, Bathusi Aubaas was found wanting on a number of occasions in Brazzaville.
The Congolese bypassed the South Africa midfield a number of times which put the defence on the backfoot and Broos will have to find a solution before the match away to Uganda given the Gil Vicente man is a long-term absentee.
South Africa need more creativity
Bafana Bafana did not create many chances on Tuesday as compared to Friday and matters were made more difficult when Themba Zwane was stretchered off in the first half.
Patrick Maswanganyi was his replacement but ‘Tito’ did not produce the goods and the result was Iqraam Ryaners feeding on scraps.
The striker did not get service and cut a lonely figure up front and with Lyle Foster out injured, Broos did not have many options on the bench to shake up things in attack.
Bafana struggle on artificial turf
Before the match, Broos had singled out the artificial turf at Stade Alphonse Massemba-Debat as his main concern and it proved right.
His players struggled to play a free-flowing game, the pitch favouring their opponents, who looked very comfortable in the familiar environment.
South Africa also had the same problem in South Sudan, when they edged the game in the final minutes, but luck was not on their side in Brazzaville as they could not play a swift passing game that they have come accustomed to.
