South Africa’s campaign to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hit a significant snag on Friday night as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by a resilient and reduced ten-man Zimbabwe side.
Playing in front of their home crowd, Hugo Broos’s Bafana Bafana dominated the encounter, controlling possession for large spells and creating numerous clear-cut opportunities.
That being said, the one crucial element missing was a decisive finish, leaving the coach undoubtedly frustrated by his team’s lack of a cutting edge.
Read: Nigeria Survive Late Lesotho Comeback
The home side started brightly, with wingers Mohau Nkota and Oswin Appollis consistently stretching the Zimbabwean defence.
Nkota came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock just before the interval in the 43rd minute when his powerful effort struck the post.
Midfielder Sphephelo Sithole also made his first appearance for the national side since the previous September, signaling a boost in the engine room.
The second half saw Broos attempt to inject more firepower, bringing on Bathusi Aubaas and Thapelo Moreno at halftime. The changes seemed to increase the pressure, leading to the game’s most contentious moment.
Striker Lyle Foster endured an especially frustrating night, first seeing his shot agonizingly cleared off the line by defender Divine Lunga in the 54th minute.
The tide appeared to turn decisively in Bafana’s favour in the 63rd minute when Zimbabwean veteran Knowledge Musona was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Despite the numerical advantage, South Africa could not find a way past the organized Zimbabwean defense. The visitors, marshaled expertly by veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi, successfully absorbing the sustained pressure to secure a valuable away point.
Foster would go on to hit the inside of the post in the dying stages, as the AFCON 2023 bronze medalists searched for the opener.
For Michael Nees & Co, the draw is a hard-earned result that they will take to AFCON 2025 in Morocco later this year.
For Hugo Broos, however, it represents a costly failure to capitalize on both pitch dominance and a man advantage, significantly complicating their path to the World Cup finals going into the final matchday.