THE CAMPAIGN

A game-by-game-guide to the national teams road to Afcon 2015

SUDAN0 / 3 SOUTH AFRICA

Vilakazi 2, Ndulula Shakes Mashaba's tenure as the new Bafana coach got off to a rocking start in Khartoum. After soaking the pressure from the hosts in very hot conditions in the first half, Bafana changed gears after the break following the introduction of substitutes Sibusiso Vilakazi and Themba Zwane. They capitalised on the home side’s mistakes and hit them hard on the counter.

SOUTH AFRICA0 / 0 NIGERIA

Vilakazi 2, Ndulula

Following Nigeria's shock 3-2 defeat in their opening group match at home to against Congo-Brazzaville, Bafana believed they could finally break their duck against the Super Eagles. The match was a bit of an arm wrestle as the Nigeria's tried to physically dominate the home side. However, Bafana, with the blossoming midfield partnership of Andile Jali and Dean Furman, didn't take a step back and could have earned victory if they weren't so wasteful in front of goal. CONGO0 / 2 SOUTH AFRICA

Ndulula, Rantie Late captain and goalkeeper Senzo Meyiwa laid the platform for this victory with a heroic performance between the posts. Bafana again showed their newfound belief away from home in a courageous display in the hostile conditions in Point-Noire. Thulani Serero also made his return to the national team and ran his socks off. Striker Ndulula silenced his critics with a wonderfully taken overhead-kick, while Rantie was beautifully set up by Furman’s reverse pass to seal the points during a second-half blitz. SOUTH AFRICA0 / 0 CONGO Victory would seal Bafana's qualification with two matches to spare.

However, the South African side would put in their worst performance of these qualifiers in extremely wet conditions at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Bafana didn’t take the game by the scruff of the neck and were too cautious. The heavy rain that pelted the stadium in the second half didn't help. However, they still managed to keep their fourth clean sheet in a row. SOUTH AFRICA2 / 1 SUDAN

Serero, Rantie Ibrahim While Thulani Serero was largely ineffective because of the tactics against the Congo in the previous qualifier, the Ajax Amsterdam man came alive in a new central role. His pace off the mark left the Sudanese for dead and his support play was exceptional. He scored his first international goal with a late run into the penalty area and set up Rantie, who sealed Bafana’s Afcon qualification with a brilliant solo effort. This was a fitting tribute for Meyiwa, who lost his life a few weeks earlier. NIGERIA 2 / 3 SOUTH AFRICA

Rantie 2 Bafana didn’t have anything to play for going into the match in Uyo. However, they had the chance to prevent one of the superpowers of African football from competing at next year’s Afcon. But it looked like they would do more than that when Rante scored two magnificent solo goals to give the visitors a 2-0 cushion with 40 minutes left to play. These were Bafana's first ever goals on Nigerian soil. However, it wasn’t enough, and the African champions fought back to secure a 2-2.