Bafana Bafana opened their COSAFA Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Namibia on Wednesday evening.
COSAFA Cup
Result: South Africa 1-1 Namibia
Date: 05 July 2023
Venue: King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium
Bafana had Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Lesedi Kapinga in their front-line, alongside Victor Letsoalo and Tebogo Tlolane while Poland-based Thabo Cele anchored the midfield.
The hosts took time to get into the rhythm of the match, with Namibia pushing them high. However, Morena Ramoreboli's charges carved out the first clear opening on 24 minutes after Letsoalo fired a low shot straight at goalkeeper Edward Maova, despite being unmarked in the box.
Bafana gained momentum as Lyle Lakay had an overlapping run on the left wing two minutes later and also unleashed a shot that was smothered by Maova.
The game opened up as the Brave Warriors looked for gaps and were threatening on counter-attacks and Elmo Kambindu eventually broke the deadlock just before the break with a free header at the back post after a cross by Bethuel Muzeu.
Ramoreboli made drastic changes at half-time as he brought on big centre forwards, Iqraam Rayners and Tshegofatso Mabasa alongside Rowan Human and Sibongiseni Mthethwa in a change of the system.
The changes made an immediate impact, as Human snatched the equaliser within a minute with a strike in the box after he was setup by fellow substitute Mabasa.
Bafana kept on coming and around the hour-mark Lakay came close to giving them the lead with a cracking shot that was cleared off the line by a Namibian defender.
Collins Benjamin's troops dropped deep in their own half with 20 minutes to go, as South Africa kept the ball for long periods but they could not break down Namibia, who were disciplined at the back.
Bafana increased their pressure in the dying minutes, with the crowd behind them and looked threatening whenever they entered the box and Namibia desperately snuffed out danger and held on to a share of the spoils.
South Africa and the Brave Warriors got a point apiece in Group A, both two points behind leaders Botswana, who beat Eswatini on earlier in the day in their opener.
Bafana and Namibia will be in action again on Saturday against the Zebras and Eswatini respectively.
Here's how they lined up:
South Africa: Barr, Allan, Mohamme, Sikhakhane, Mogaila, Cele, Tlolane, Kobedi, Letoalo, Kapinga, Lakay
Namibia: Maova, Gebhardt, Kambindu, Iimbondi, Papama, Rudathm Petrus, Muzea, Kamberipa, Fredericks, Amuntenya
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