The Bafana Bafana team managed to defeat Guinea 2-1, thanks to a late goal by Samukelo Kabini. This match marked the beginning of Pizo Mosimane's second term as head coach, who achieved success at the Orlando Stadium Amstel Arena on Saturday.
The South African national team secured the first three points in their group, starting the journey to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on a positive note. Bafana showed an active start to the game and had a chance to score within the first ten minutes, but Relebokhile Mofokeng failed to capitalize on his opportunity.
The South Africans continued to dominate possession and create higher-quality chances, eventually earning a reward 30 minutes into the match. Defender Ime Okon, based in Germany, opened the scoring with a set-piece goal after the Guinean defense could not handle the attack inside the crowded penalty area.
Bafana Bafana
The first half was an ideal reward for Mosimane's team's dominance, although they could have gone into halftime with a more comfortable lead. However, Guinea returned with significant momentum in the second half and eventually equalized the score in the 69th minute.
A free kick created problems in Bafana's box, after which the ball found Seidou Sisse in the area, who did not miss from close range, leveling the teams' chances.
Mosimane reacted by bringing on substitutes, and the substitutions quickly paid off. Substitute Kabini restored Bafana's advantage in the 77th minute, drawing loud applause from the fans at the Orlando stadium.
The left-back delivered a pass from Mbutumu on the edge of the box and then calmly finished the attack, sending the ball past the Guinean goalkeeper. Despite Guinea trying to achieve another equalizer towards the end, Bafana maintained its advantage, securing a victory for Mosimane in his first official match after returning to the national team.
This result gives Mosimane a crucial start to a new phase with Bafana, and the game itself showed that despite South Africa's control over most of the match, there is still much work to be done. Nevertheless, it was a memorable day for Kabini, as his late goal, his first international one, secured all three points for the team and helped Mosimane return with a win.