GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – OCTOBER 10: General view of warmups during the South Africa mens national soccer team press conference at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on October 10, 2024 in Gqeberha, South Africa. This press conference is ahead of their AFCON qualifier match against Congo Brazzaville. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)
Bafana Bafana will be chasing their second victory in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they host Congo-Brazzaville on Friday evening at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier
Teams: South Africa v Congo
Date: 11 October 2024
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Time: 19h00
Bafana started their Group K campaign with a 2-2 draw against Uganda as they had to come from a goal down and Thalente Mbatha salvaged a point with an equaliser in the last minute after Lyle Foster had given them an early lead.
Hugo Broos’ charges almost came away with another draw after going into the last minute tied 2-2 with South Sudan, following a brace by Oswin Appollis.
However, Mbatha snatched the winner just before stoppage time as he made it 3-2 and as a result, South Africa are level on four points with leaders the Cranes.
Congo, on the other hand, had a winning start after edging South Sudan 1-0 in their opener following an early goal by Chandrel Massanga on home soil.
However, The Leopards went down 2-0 to Uganda away and as a result, have three points on the board from their opening two matches.
Bafana hold a superior head-to-head record against Congo and are unbeaten, as they have won two out of the four competitive meetings between the sides since 2006.
The last time the sides met was in 2014, in a goalless draw in an AFCON qualifier encounter at Peter Mokaba Stadium.
Themba Zwane starts to make his 50th appearance for the national side.
Here’s how they line up:
South Africa: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Dortley, Modiba, Aubaas, Mokoena, Appollis, Zwane, Foster, Mokwana
Subs: Chaine, Goss, Mobbie, Basadien, Le Roux, Mofokeng, Maswanganyi, Kwayiba, Rayners, Sibisi, Sesane, Morena
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