South Africa vs South Sudan – Bafana Bafana delivered a dominant performance to cap off their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign, defeating South Sudan 3-0 at the Cape Town Stadium. The win ensured South Africa finished as group winners, an emphatic conclusion to a successful qualification phase.

This match was more than just a formality, as both teams had already booked their spots in the continental tournament. For South Africa, it was about maintaining momentum and asserting their dominance, while for South Sudan, it was a chance to test themselves against stronger opposition.

First Half: Early Control and Goals

South Africa wasted no time imposing themselves. In the 7th minute, Iqraam Rayners opened the scoring with a clinical side-foot finish after Appollis provided a perfectly timed square pass. The early goal set the tone, as Bafana Bafana took control of possession and dictated play.

South Sudan struggled to find a foothold in the game, with their only notable first-half chance coming in the 43rd minute when Juma fired a shot wide after being given space.

Bafana doubled their lead in the 23rd minute through Patrick Maswanganyi, who capitalized on a fumble by South Sudan’s goalkeeper Mawith to tap the ball into an empty net. By halftime, South Africa’s 2-0 lead reflected their dominance, with the home side enjoying more possession, more shots, and better composure.

Second Half: Penalty Secures the Win

The second half resumed with South Africa showing no signs of slowing down. In the 51st minute, Teboho Mokoena stepped up to take a penalty after Mudau was brought down in the box. Mokoena confidently blasted the ball into the net, extending Bafana’s lead to 3-0.

South Sudan made changes to their lineup, introducing fresh legs like Magor and Elly, but they failed to mount a serious threat. South Africa’s defense, marshaled by Ngezana, remained solid, ensuring that Ronwen Williams, who was later substituted in the 73rd minute to give Stephens some game time, had little to do.

Key Highlights from the Match

Rayners’ Opening Goal: A quick build-up play in the 7th minute led to Rayners calmly slotting home, giving South Africa the perfect start.
Maswanganyi’s Poacher’s Finish: Opportunistic as ever, Maswanganyi reacted first to a goalkeeper error to score South Africa’s second in the 23rd minute.
Mokoena’s Penalty: The midfielder’s 51st-minute penalty was a show of confidence and precision, sealing the game for the home side.
Solid Defense: Despite a few injuries and substitutions, South Africa’s backline held firm, with Ngezana particularly impressive.

Tactical Superiority

Bafana Bafana’s approach was built on patient build-ups, sharp transitions, and exploiting South Sudan’s defensive vulnerabilities. Mudau and Mokoena were instrumental in linking defense to attack, while Appollis and Morena provided width and creativity.

Substitutions, including the introduction of Titus, Mbatha, and Mofokeng, ensured South Africa maintained their intensity and shape throughout the game.

South Sudan’s Challenges

South Sudan showed determination but was outclassed by a more experienced South African side. Their midfield struggled to retain possession, and their defensive errors proved costly. Despite their best efforts, including a few attempts by Juma and substitutions like Kundu and Elly, they failed to breach Bafana’s defense.

South Africa’s 3-0 victory was a statement of intent as they head into AFCON 2025. The result not only confirmed their status as group winners but also demonstrated their growing cohesion and depth as a team.

With players like Rayners, Maswanganyi, and Mokoena stepping up, and captain Ronwen Williams celebrating his 50th cap with a clean sheet, Bafana Bafana gave fans plenty of reasons to look forward to the tournament.

As the final whistle blew, South Africa walked off the pitch to applause, having secured another confident win. Their focus now shifts to preparing for the main tournament, where they will aim to challenge for continental glory.