By Michael Madyira
Bafana Bafana gave them a lifeline in their bid to qualify for the 2026 Fifa World Cup by beating Zimbabwe 3-1 at Free State Stadium on Tuesday.
A second-half brace by substitute Thapelo Morena who added on to Iqraam Rayners’ first-minute goal helped South Africa end a two-match winless run in these qualifiers.
Morena rose from the bench to first score in the 55th minute before sealing his double 14 minutes from time.
Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Tawanda Chirewa grabbed Zimbabwe’s goal two minutes into the contest.
After going for two games without victory with a loss to Rwanda and a draw with Nigeria, Bafana revived themselves to rise from position four to two in this pool.
Rwanda maintained their lead after edging Lesotho 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium on the same evening as Zimbabwe anchor the standings while continental powerhouse Nigeria are fifth.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos benched Percy Tau who has been struggling in national team colours of late and preferred Polokwane City star Oswin Appollis who rewarded him with an assist.
It was a dramatic start to the match which saw Bafana taking the lead barely when both teams had settled into the game.
Rayners gratefully took advantage of Munashe Garan’anga’s monumental blunder when the KV Mechelen defender failed to control the ball for the Stellenbosch forward to beat Godfrey Chitsunga in goals for Zimbabwe.
But the Warriors quickly hit back with Chirewa weaving his way past the hosts’ defenders to fire past Ronwen Williams.
Rayners was back again after eight minutes but this time around Garan’anga blocked his shot while Walter Musona also prevented Teboho Mokoena’s follow-up.
After 23 minutes, Rayners turned villain, shooting wide while clear at goal an Appollis cross with only Chitsunga to beat.
Chirewa was proving to be troublesome to South Africa’s backline and in the 35th-minute, he forced a desperate save from Williams.
Shortly after, Rayners thought he had grabbed a brace but his goal was ruled offside by Egyptian referee Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour.
Chirewa continued tormenting the Bafana defence and had a turn and shoot going just wide in the first half’s stoppage time.
The introduction of Morena changed the complexion of the game and Chitsumba parried an Appollis cross into the path of the Sundowns star who made no mistake in hitting the target.
Later on, a long pin-point pass by Teboho Mokoena found Morena who came face to face with Chitsumba and scored to give Bafana a security goal.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana celebrating against Zimbabwe.
Source: Bafana Bafana
