Windhoek, Namibia – In a crucial encounter following their recent loss to Mali, South Africa’s national football team, affectionately known as Bafana Bafana (the Boys), secured a resounding victory against Namibia, solidifying their position in the competition. The match saw South Africa racing into a three-goal lead by half-time, with the talented Thembinkosi Zwane finding the net twice.
Belgium’s Hugo Broos, who took the reins as coach after South Africa’s failure to qualify for the last Cup of Nations, initially deemed the team “too old,” using Zwane as a prime example. However, Zwane’s consistently outstanding performances for his club, Mamelodi Sundowns, forced Broos to reconsider his assessment.
Percy Tau, who had faced criticism for a missed penalty against Mali, redeemed himself by expertly converting a penalty, setting the tone for the match. The South African attack continued to shine, with Thembinkosi Zwane showcasing his prowess.
Zwane’s first goal arrived when a precision cross from Thapelo Morena was met perfectly, giving South Africa a two-goal advantage. The Zwane show continued as he netted his second, skillfully racing towards goal from the left and finding the far corner of the net, extending South Africa’s lead to 3-0.
South Africa dominated the match, and their control was evident as Morena’s shot forced Namibian goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua to tip the ball just over the crossbar as half-time approached.
Coach Hugo Broos, a former Cup of Nations winner with Cameroon in 2017, demonstrated his confidence in victory by substituting Zwane during the second half. His replacement, Thapelo Maseko, made an immediate impact by adding to South Africa’s tally. Maseko sprinted to control a long pass and, despite Kazapua’s efforts, found the net, sealing South Africa’s biggest winning margin in the competition.
Mali currently leads the group with four points, while South Africa and Namibia have three points each, and Tunisia holds one point ahead of the final group matches scheduled for Wednesday. This impressive victory has reignited South Africa’s hopes in the tournament, and their next matches promise to be highly anticipated encounters.
