Bafana and Zimbabwe draw a World Cup blank in Harare

A solid, if decidedly unspectacular effort from Bafana Bafana in Harare saw them earn a point against Zimbabwe in a goalless 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying Group G opener at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday.

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Hugo Broos has only just finished his first week on the touchline as Bafana Bafana head coach, so it was perhaps unsurprising that this was a disjointed display, and a point away from home against a more established Warriors side is not to be sniffed at.

Bafana certainly put up a solid defensive display, with captain Ronwen Williams rarely tested in goal, but they will surely have to come up with more in the final third themselves if they are to break down group favourites Ghana at FNB Stadium on Monday.

Broos’ first selection as Bafana head coach was an exciting-looking side in terms of its  youthful attack, with Luther Singh, Evidence Makgopa and Gift Links all given a chance to shine.

Vice-captain Percy Tau was the experienced man in the front line, but the quartet never quite gelled in a scrappy opening half.

A well-worked corner did result in a chance for Makgopa in the 8^th minute, but he headed wide while backing away from goal.

Zimbabwe’s forward line was far more in sync than Bafana’s, with the likes of Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Tino Kadewere at times linking with fluidity.

Ronwen Williams had to be alert to come off his line to block an early Warriors chance, but in the 17^th minute, Teboho Mokoena almost opened the scoring for Bafana, as one of his trademark rockets from range was somehow pushed away by Talbert Shumba in the Warriors goal.

On the half hour mark, Mahachi released Billiat, and he unleashed his own power drive, but Williams was equal to it.

Overall, there were too many errors in possession from Bafana, carelessly giving the ball away at times. On one such occasion, Siyanda Xulu handed possession to Musona, but his cross was cleared.

Broos took off Links at the break, the Denmark-based attacker failing to make an impact, and brought on Maritzburg United’s Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

Zimbabwe continued to press in the second half, without creating much, while Musona was booked for stopping a swift Hlongwane counter-attack in its tracks.

Rushine De Reuck and Nyiko Mobbie then both put their bodies on the line with vital blocks, before Hlongwane got away again, and this time he burst into the area and his shot wriggled under the body of Shumba, but was brilliantly cleared off the by Gilroy Chimwemwe.

Hlongwane then created another chance as he chested the ball down for Victor Letsoalo, who had just come on, but the striker blazed over.

Bafana pushed forward more as the game drew to a close, Tau’s low shot drawing another save from Shumba, before Al Ahly’s new man was taken off and replaced by Sipho Mbule.