FILE PHOTO: Bafana Bafana's Percy Muzi Tau attempts his penalty against Mali. PICTURE: IOL
0 
0 JOHANNESBURG: This means that Bafana Bafana have lost their second consecutive opening match at the AFCON.
Bafana Bafana begun the Total African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on the wrong foot following a 2-0 loss to Mali in their opening Group E encounter at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo City last night.
Mali now heads Group E followed by Namibia, who shocked Tunisia earlier on the night by upsetting the North Africans 1-0 to take charge of the group, albeit for hours. Two second half goals within a six minute difference from Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko made Bafana Bafana rue their missed chances.
Hugo Broos’ men began the match positively, building from the back, much to their detriment in the second half, but it worked in the first half. Bafana Bafana were holding more than their own against the Eagles by creating good scoring chances.
One of which was a missed penalty by Percy Tau in the 19th minute. South Africa were awarded a penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) check after Orlando Pirates’ Evidence Makgopa was elbowed inside the box.
Tau, who plays for Al Ahly, an Egyptian outfit, had a chance opportunity to redeem himself and give Bafana a lead, but he once again blown his chance as his shot was parried away by Djigui Diarra 10 minutes from half time.
Both countries had chances to score before first half, but their goalkeepers kept the score level at 0-0 at the break.
In the second half, Mali asserted themselves at Bafana Bafana’s defence, which was playing from the back and proved to be their undoing in the 60th minute when they conceded a foul close to their goals.
Traore reacted quickest to tap the ball home from the line after Ronwen Williams was beaten by Sekou Koita’s free kick that had hit the woodwork. Bafana’s defence remained stationary and ball watching while Traore and his teammates threw their bodies to finish off the rebound.
Bafana’s poor defending continued. As a result, they were punished yet again six minutes later by Sinayoko, who glazed past an uncommitted Siyanda Xulu, before putting the ball past a helpless Williams.
It ended 2-0 in favour of Eric Chelle’s men who showed their class and quality against their counterparts.
This means that Bafana Bafana have lost their second consecutive opening match at the AFCON. In 2019, they lost by a solitary goal to Ivory Coast, who are the hosts of the 2023 TotalEnergies AFCON.
It is back to the drawing board for Broos and his team, whose second match is against Namibia on 21 January. This is a must win if they want to stay in the tournament. The question, therefore, arises: Can Bafana redeem themselves and progress to the knockout stages? It remains to be seen.
About Author
