By Michael Madyira
- Bafana Bafana secured a 2-0 victory over Uganda in the Afcon qualifiers, with substitutes Thapelo Morena and Patrick Maswanganyi scoring crucial goals.
- The win placed South Africa at the top of Group K, maintaining their unbeaten record against Uganda in six matches.
Bafana Bafana seized control of Group K in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following a 2-0 victory over Uganda at Mandela National Stadium on Friday.
Mamelodi Sundowns utility star Thapelo Morena rose from the bench to score four minutes into the second half before another substitute Patrick Maswanganyi struck right at the death for his first goal in national team colours.
Less than 24 hours after their place at the Afcon finals was confirmed, thanks to South Sudan beating Congo-Brazzaville 3-2, Bafana turned on the style to secure maximum points on the road.
They now occupy Group K top spot with a point more than Uganda after climbing up the ladder from second position.
It was the kind of result Bafana needed ahead of hosting South Sudan in their final match of the qualifiers in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Friday’s result saw Bafana continuing their dominance over the Cranes who have never beaten them in six outings.
South Africa were in Kampala for the first time since October 2004 when they edged Uganda 1-0 in a 2006 Fifa World Cup qualifier.
Despite both teams having already qualified for Afcon, their coaches still opted to field full-strength starting line-ups with Golden Arrows goalkeeper Ismail Watenga featuring for Uganda.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos, however, surprisingly selected Luke le Roux to start ahead of Orlando Pirates midfielder Maswanganyi.
Chances were not coming in the first half but the second stanza saw things improving, especially for the visitors.
Evidence Makgopa saw his low shot deflected for a corner kick two minutes after the restart to hint at a Bafana breakthrough.
The home side were then undone by a defensive error from Taddeo Lwanga who mistakenly passed the ball to Morena to smash it home past Watenga.
While managing to protect goalkeeper Ronwen Williams from being troubled by Uganda’s attacks, Bafana were doing better at the other end with Iqraam Rayners seeing his shot sail just wide.
The Sundowns striker then supplied Maswanganyi whose turn-and-shoot beat Maswanganyi in what was his maiden Bafana goal.
Pictured above: Bafana Bafana midfielder Bathusi Aubaas challenges Uganda’s Allan Okello while Oswin Appollis looks on.
Source: Bafana Bafana
