Staff Reporter.
South Africa have moved to the top of Group G in Africa’s 2022 World Cup Qualifying after a late Bongokuhle Hlongwane goal saw them defeat Ghana 1-0 at the FNB Stadium.
Bafana Bafana moved to four points – leapfrogging the Black Stars, who remain on three – at the head of the table.
Ghana started the stronger of the two teams, forcing South Africa central defender Rushine de Reuck into a rash challenge which put him in the book just four minutes in, while Andre Ayew soon dragged a shot wide from the left of the penalty area.
Bafana Bafana gradually gained a foothold in the game and began to show some promise in attack, with Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Nyiko Mobbie providing thrust down the left flank, while Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori was called on to punch clear a dangerous free kick delivery from Percy Tau midway through the first half.
On 31 minutes Teboho Mokoena’s shot from a kick forced an awkward save from Ofori, with the rebound then seeing Mothobi Mvala volley off target as South Africa continued to grow in confidence.
The hosts thought they had claimed the lead on 37 minutes when Tau ghosted away from his marker to head home Mobbie’s fine cross from the left, but the Bafana attacker was incorrectly flagged offside.
Goalless at the break, South Africa blew a glorious chance to break the deadlock inside the opening minute of the second half: Mokoena whipped in a cross from the right, Ofori fumbled his attempt at catching the ball, and Evidence Makgopa somehow missed an open goal from just a couple of metres out.
In the 68th minute, Tau threaded the ball down the left-hand side of the box for Hlongwane, who got to the byline and cut the ball back for Mvala, who controlled and tried an acrobatic overhead kick which went narrowly wide of the right-hand upright as Ghana breathed another sigh of relief.
The game looked set to end in a goalless stalemate but on 83 minutes SA were finally rewarded for their endeavour: another dangerous cross from Mokoena on the right was missed by substitute Victor Letsoalo, but Hlongwane – perhaps unwittingly – directed the ball home via the inside of the post, with Ghana’s replacement goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi powerless to prevent the goal, which proved to be the difference by the final whistle.
SA and Ghana will return to Group G action in October, with Bafana Bafana taking on Ethiopia in back-to-back matches and the Black Stars facing Zimbabwe both home and away.
There was also a late winner for Liberia as they beat Central African Republic (CAR) 1-0 in Group C in a match played in an empty Japoma stadium the Cameroonian city of Douala as neither nation has a stadium to host international matches.
The only goal of the game came in the 86th minute as Malaysia-based Kpah Sherman hooked the ball home when CAR dealt badly with a freekick.
Liberia should have been the ‘hosts’ for the match but at the last minute failed to agree a deal with the authorities in Cameroon over the use of the stadium.
Instead the Liberians will play its ‘home’ games in Ghana – but as both teams were in Cameroon it was decided CAR would be the ‘home’ team as they already had an agreement to use the stadium later in the qualifiers.
The other match in the group sees Nigeria hoping to make it two wins from two when they play hosts Cape Verde on Tuesday.
Also Uganda managed to force a goalless draw with visitors Mali in Kampala in Group E.
Despite the draw, Mali remain top of the group with four points from their two matches so far while Uganda have two points from two goalless draws.
Kenya also have two points while Rwanda are bottom, with the single point they earned on Sunday when the two sides drew 1-1 in Kigali.
In Group A, Niger came from behind to beat Djibouti 4-2 and, like Uganda, ended the match with just 10 players on the pitch.
Thrashed 8-0 by African champions Algeria on Thursday, Djibouti took a surprise lead after 32 minutes through Norwegian-born Anas Farah Ali.
Niger fought back after half-time with four goals, including a brace for Ghana-based Victorien Adebayor in the opening 11 minutes.
Amadou Djibo Wonkoye, who plays in Guinea for Horoya, then added a third from the penalty spot in the 64th minute with Amadou Sabo adding the fourth minutes later.
In the 83rd minute, Hassane Amadou was shown a straight red card and Djibouti made use of their one-man advantage to score a second through Warsama Hassan Houssein.
The match was played in the Moroccan city of Rabat as Djibouti’s facilities do not meet international standards.
The result means Djibouti are pointless after two games while Niger now have three points.