Bafana’s Afcon qualification programme suffers blow with draw against Kenya

Bafana Bafana’s qualification programme for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) suffered a blow when they were held to a 2-2 draw by Benni McCarthy’s stubborn Kenya in Soweto on Friday night.

South Africa looked to be on their way to a valuable three points at home but the Harambee Stars scored the equaliser during the drying minutes from the effort of Ryan Ogam who got the better of Olwethu Makhanya before beating Ronwen Williams.

South Africa have seven points from three matches and are under pressure from second-placed Guinea, who beat Eritrea 2-1 on Thursday in the other match of the group and have six points.

South Africa are in a must-win situation for the return leg in Nairobi on Tuesday because they may be removed at the top of the group if they drop points in the next game.

Kenya, who have already qualified for the African showpiece they are co-hosting with Uganda and Tanzania, have two points to show for their troubles and will provide breathing space for coach McCarthy who has been under pressure after a recent run of mixed results.

Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane made two changes to the team that beat Eritrea in their last qualifier in Egypt with Thabang Matuludi and Tshepang Moremi replacing the injured duo of Kamogelo Sebelebele and Thapelo Maseko.

The biggest call by Mosimane was leaving US-based defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, on his return to the team after injury, out of the starting line-up and continuing with the central defensive partnership of Ime Okon and Olwethu Makhanya that did duty against Guinea and Eritrea.

Mosimane refreshed his tactics for this game by playing three defenders at the back with Makhanya employed on the left side, Okon stationed in the centre and Matuludi playing on the right.

In the midfield, Mosimane went with Mokoena and Sithole as his central holders while Modiba and Moremi played on the wings and his three-pronged attack was made up of Mofokeng, Appollis and Rayners.

Kenya created the first notable chance of the match and Williams had to react quickly by parrying the ball for a corner kick but Bafana reacted with quick attacks of their own through Mofokeng and Rayners.

Bafana wasted a golden opportunity in the seventh minute when Moremi blasted the ball in the air from a good position as he got on the end of a quick attacking move by South Africa that included touches from Aubrey Modiba and Oswin Appollis.

Bafana opened the scoring after eight minutes after Kenya were caught by South Africa’s high press when they tried to play from the back and were caught.

Under-pressure goalkeeper Shikhalo Faruk played the ball to Amos Wanjala but he was put under pressure by South African attackers and ended up putting the ball into the empty net as Bafana took the lead.

South Africa dominated most of the possession but Kenya stayed in the game and one of their chances put Bafana under pressure with Matuludi handling the ball in the penalty box and referee Tanguy Mebiame had no hesitation to point to the spot.

Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga showed nerves of steel to stand up and send Williams the wrong way with the equaliser after 41 minutes as they went to the break sharing the spoils.

Bafana returned with purpose but they could not find the target and after 56 minutes, Mosimane made his first changes with Lyle Foster and Puso Dithejane coming on for Rayners and Moremi.

Bafana came close to retaking the lead after 58 minutes when Mofokeng’s close-range curling shot hit the upright with Faruk beaten after he got the ball from Appollis.

Bafana increased their lead through Mofokeng, who struck from close range, after a delightful move that included several South African players but Kenya equalised through Ryan Ogam.

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