Bafana Bafana took a giant step in their quest to qualify from Group G in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers by defeating Zimbabwe 1-0 on Thursday evening.
Following their clash against Ethiopia, Bafana named three changes in the form of Percy Tau, Keagan Dolly and Thibang Phete as Khama Billiat and Ishmael Wadi started in the Warriors line-up.
After a spirited opening, Bafana took the lead five minutes just before the half-hour mark when a perfectly weighted cross from Dolly found Teboho Mokoena, who headed in from the back-post.
Bafana kept pushing for a second but a close-range attempt by Tau following a scramble in the area, was cleared away by the visitor’s defence.
The Warriors began to camp in the opposing half in the latter periods of the first half in pursuit of the equalizer, but they couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Nonetheless, Bafana’s dominant spell continued in the second half as Phete came close from a free-kick by Tau before Nyiko Mobbie had his own shot from a promising area blocked.
Ten minutes after the break, the Warriors introduced Kudakwashe Mahachi for Blessing Sarupinda with the aim of turning the game on its head.
Thereafter though, Norman Mapeza’s men still conceded chances with Dolly’s curler from afar and a looping header from Bongokuhle Hlongwane forced the opposition goalkeeper to making sharp reflexes.
With full-time approaching, Bafana fluffed a number of chances towards the end of the game.
Bafana still managed to see out the game and pick a valuable win to go three points clear of second-place Ghana, who played to 1-1 a draw against Ethiopia earlier in the day.