Bafana champs once more
BAFANA Bafana celebrated Nelson Mandela Day on a high note after winning the Cosafa Cup following a 5-4 penalty shootout win over guest nation Senegal in the final at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium yesterday.
The South Africans last won the southern African tournament in 2016. Yesterday’s success was their fifth, equalling Zambia in second place behind Zimbabwe’s six.
Bafana’s Ethan Brooks was the first to miss from the penalty spot as his shot was saved by Senegal goalkeeper Papa N’Diaye.
Bafana captain Veli Mothwa then went on to level matters after saving Dominic Mendy’s spot-kick which was Senegal’s fourth as things ended 4-4 after the first five spot-kicks, forcing sudden death.
Nyiko Mobbie scored Bafana’s sixth before Senegal goalkeeper and captain N’Diaye opted to take his nation’s sixth, skying it over the bar and gifting victory to the host nation.
The game was a scrappy one. Bafana went into the game with a 100% record after having failed to concede a single goal and faced their strongest test yet against the Senegalese.
Bafana did have their chances to score, but once again seemed to suffer with anxiety in front of goal in key moments.
Siyethemba Sithebe had a freekick in the seventh minute, but the AmaZulu player’s set-piece was quickly cleared away.
One of Bafana’s stars of the tournament Yusuf Maart also failed to sparkle in the game. He had a free-kick in the 16th minute which went straight to N’Diaye.
There was not much action in the first half with Mothwa not having to make a single save, though his defence was forced to clear the ball off the line in the 40th minute following a Senegal corner.
The second half was as scrappy as the first half, with neither side being able to create many clear-cut opportunities.
Bafana’s closest chance in the game came in the 70th minute, but defender Njabulo Ngcobo’s direct shot on target lacked power as N’Diaye made an easy save.
Pappe Djitte had the best chance of the game for Senegal in the 76th minute but did not use it well as he lost composure in front of goal.
Two minutes later, Bafana’s Rushine De Reuck found himself in goalscoring range, but he struck the ball over the bar.
With virtually the last kick of the game, Bafana were awarded a freekick just outside the box. The effort ended up deflecting off the Senegal wall before N’Diaye made an easy save.
Neither team created chances in extra time before penalties ensued.