Bongani Zungu of South Africa celebrates goal
during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Finals football match between South Africa and Namibia at the Al Salam Stadium, Cairo, Egypt on 28 June 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
by
Staff Reporter
Friday Jun 28, 2019. 23:43
South Africa defeated Namibia 1-0 in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Group D match at the Al Salam Stadium in Egypt on Friday night.
As a result, Bafana Bafana climbed up third place on the group table, while the Brave Warriors moved down to fourth place.
The match got off to a lively start and it was Bafana Bafana, who threatened first through Sibusiso Vilakazi 15 minutes into the encounter.
The Mamelodi Sundowns attacker combined nicely with Themba Zwane and he unleashed a powerful shot which went just over the crossbar.
South Africa dominated possession against their Southern African rivals and they should have scored just after the half-hour mark.
Sifiso Hlanti's cross found Zwane unmarked in the Namibia box, but the attacking midfielder's header was easily saved by Llyod Kazapua in Namibia goal.
The momentum was with Bafana with the half-time break approaching and they had another opportunity to score in the 39th minute.
Vilakazi set-up Tau in the Brave Warriors box, but the latter fired straight at Kazapua, who made a comfortable save.
South Africa and Namibia were locked at 0-0 at the interval.
The two teams attacked each other after the restart, but the first real chance of the second-half came on the hour-mark.
Hlanti found himself in a good position and the Bidvest Wits left-back decided to shoot with his weaker foot and Kazapua produced a low save to deny the defender.
Namibia also had a chance to break the deadlock after South Africa keeper Darren Keet had failed to handle a cross from the left.
However, Hotto's goal-bound effort was brilliantly blocked on the goal-line by his club team-mate Buhle Mkhwanazi of South Africa.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 68th minute when Tau's corner-kick was headed home by an unmarked Bongani Zungu to make it 1-0 to South Africa.
Ricardo Mannetti's men pushed forward in search of the equalizing goal, but they were left vulnerable at the back and they nearly conceded in the 80th minute.
Brighton and Hove Albion attacker Tau burst into the Namibia box and he unleashed a low shot which was well-saved by Kazapua at the near-post.
South Africa then stood firm at the back in the latter stages of the game and ultimately, they ran out 1-0 winners over Namibia on the night.
South Africa (0) 1 (Zungu 68')
Namibia (0) 0
South Africa: Keet, Mkhize (Mphahlele 67'), Hlanti, Hlatshwayo, Mkhwanazi, Kekana, Zungu (Mokotjo 84'), Zwane, Vilakazi (Veldwijk 86'), Tau, Mothiba.
Namibia: Kazapua, Horaeb, Hanamub, Haoseb, Nyambe, Shitembi, Hotto, Starke (Kamatuka 76'), Ketjijere, Shilongo (Gurirab 46'), Shalulile.
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