South Africa, Congo set for key Group K showdown

by Graeme Jackson

Thursday Oct 10, 2024. 16:00

South Africa and Congo will meet in a key Group K showdown in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Friday 11 October, with kick-off at 19h00 CAT.

South Africa got their qualification campaign off to a solid start by claiming four points from their first two matches, at home to Uganda (2-2 draw) and away to South Sudan (3-2 win), though both results relied on last-gasp goals from substitute Thalente Mbatha.

Bafana Bafana are tied at the top of Group K with Uganda, though Congo are just one point behind after a 1-0 home win over South Sudan and 2-0 loss away to the Cranes.

SA coach Hugo Broos will welcome back captain and first-choice goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, though gifted attacker Percy Tau has been omitted from the squad due to personal reasons.

“I’m happy that Ronwen is back. He’s the one that talks a lot, and hands out advice to the players,” said Broos.

“We saw what happened in his absence, but it will be much better now that he is back.

“He is a fantastic goalkeeper. Appointing him captain was one of the best decisions I made.

“Look now, Ronwen is a nominee for the Ballon d’Or awards. It’s never happened to an African-born player from an African club before.”

In head-to-head stats, South Africa and Congo have met in 11 matches dating back as far as 1992. Bafana Bafana have claimed five wins compared to just one for the Red Devils, while four games have been drawn.

The teams last met a decade ago in AFCON qualifiers for the 2015 tournament, with SA winning 2-0 away in Brazzaville, before a goalless draw in the return game in Polokwane.

The other Group K match between Uganda and South Sudan kicks off an hour earlier at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala.