Inspired substitutes inspire Bafana to Uganda victory

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Friday Nov 15, 2024. 17:09

South Africa overcame Uganda 2-0 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group K match at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday afternoon.

As a result, Bafana Bafana moved up to the top of the group standings and they will look to end a successful qualifying campaign with a win over South Sudan in Cape Town when the two teams meet on Tuesday.

The Cranes, on the other hand, moved down to second place having also qualified for the AFCON finals and they will be keen to return to winning ways when they face off with Congo in Brazzaville on Tuesday.

The two teams struggled to create clear-cut chances in the opening 15 minutes of the encounter with most of the ball being played in the middle of the park where there was a battle for control of the midfield.

Bafana Bafana grew gradually into the match and goalkeeper Ismail Watenga was called into action in the 26th minute – coming out to gather Aubrey Modiba’s attempted through pass for Elias Mokwana. The score was 0-0 at half-time.

Mokwana was pulled out by coach Hugo Broos at half-time and replaced by Thapelo Morena who proved to be an inspired substitute as the speedster scored to make it 1-0 to South Africa in the 49th minute after pouncing onto a poor back-pass.

Coach Hugo Broos’ substitutes were proving to be very effective. Patrick Maswanganyi then sealed South Africa’s 2-0 victory over Uganda when he netted in the 89th minute after being set up by fellow substitute Iqraam Rayners.

Uganda 0

South Africa 2 (Morena 49′, Maswanganyi 89′)

Uganda: Watenga, Ssemakula, Kayondo, Mugabi, Awany (Lwaliwa 46′), Lwanga (Byaruhanga 56′), Aucho, Mato, Omedi (Kiwanuka 56′), Ssemugabi (Mukwala 56′), Okello (Mutyaba 63′).

South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Modiba (Basadien 71′), Mvala, Dortley, Mokoena, Aubaas, Le Roux (Maswanganyi 71′), Appollis (Mbatha 84′), Mokwana (Morena 46′), Makgopa (Rayners 71′).