Bafana out of AFCON after punch-drunk performance
Bafana Bafana crashed out of the African Cup of Nations tournament after Ghana’s double victory during Tuesday night’s match.
Ahead of the clash, Bafana Bafana made four changes within the team, most notably by having its third goalkeeper, Brilliant Khuzwayo. Khuzwayo replaced Darren Keet, who played against Algeria in the opening match.
Bafana’s Mandla Masango quickly put South Africa in the lead with a clean goal for the team a mere 16 minutes into the game. After an opening 3-1 loss against Algeria, as well as the 1-1 draw with Senegal last week, this was a must-win C group match for the South African soccer team. Bafana Bafana also played in the hopes that Senegal would beat Algeria to safeguard their safe passage into the next round.
Tension mounted when a groin injury saw Ghana’s Daniel Amartey off the match, losing an advantage the Black Stars would have sought later into the game. Bafana Bafana’s early start at the goalposts however spurred on the Black Stars to swiftly equalise the match with a goal in the second half of the game, stunning its South African counterpart off their comfortable balance.
Bafana Bafana then suffered another quiver when the team’s captain Dean Furman was awarded a yellow card. In an adjacent game, Algeria scored the first goal against Senegal, spelling fears that both Ghana and South Africa would be sent out of the competition.
In a dramatic switch, Ghana swiftly scored another goal in the 80th minute, knocking out Bafana Bafana minutes after Algeria scored its second goal against Senegal.
While Bafana Bafana return home to a disappointed nation, Ghana now sits at the top of Group C with 6 points, and sail into the quarter finals alongside Algeria.
