Bafana Bafana aim to hold onto one-point lead atop Group G

South African players during a training session

Monday Oct 11, 2021. 11:00

South Africa will be aiming to build on their winning run in Group G when they host Ethiopia in a CAF second round 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at FNB Stadium on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 18h00 CAT.

Bafana Bafana defeated the same opponents 3-1 in Bahir Dar on Saturday to move up to seven points after three matches, a point ahead of Ghana who beat Zimbabwe by the same scoreline.

Getaneh Kebede, who is well known to South African football fans, cancelled out Teboho Mokoena’s opener, but goals from Mothobi Mvala and Evidence Makgopa sealed a stunning win for the visitors.

“It was a very difficult game on a very tough pitch. I said before the game to the players that we don’t need a trophy of best football playing, but we need a title of the team with the most character,” said Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos in the aftermath.

“We showed that character, we fought for every ball and we won, and it is a great win.”

The result leaves South Africa in pole position with three rounds of fixtures remaining. Victory at home to Ethiopia and Zimbabwe followed by a draw away to the Black Stars next month will ensure the country’s passage into the third round of qualifying.

In head-to-head stats, the two nations have now locked horns on three previous occasions with victory over the weekend Bafana Bafana’s first in this rivalry.

The Walia Ibex took four points off South Africa over two 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on their way to topping the group at Bafana Bafana’s expense. Ethiopia ultimately missed out on a place at the World Cup in Brazil following aggregate defeat to Nigeria in the final round of qualifying.