Bafana coach Hugo Broos admits his side were below their best despite seeing off a second-string Ghana 1-0 in their final friendly match before AFCON.
Sipho Mbule scored the only goal of the game at Dobsonville Stadium with a superb strike with 58 minutes on the clock.
South Africa gets their AFCON charge underway against Angola on Monday, and Broos is expecting an improved showing.
Speaking after the midweek game, the Belgian told SABC sport: “Let’s say I am happy with the result, but we can play much better.
“We didn’t play very well, we didn’t have the movement we are used to with this team.
“Our passing was not good, so there is still a lot of work to do for us to be at the highest level this week.
“Maybe there was something in the players head that next week the AFCON starts and they are a bit afraid to be injured or whatever. Again, we expected more. But this can happen, I remember two years ago we were also terrible against Lesotho, so that gives us hope,” added Broos.
“I am sure the boys will be ready next week against Angola”
Bafana are in Group B, which also features Egypt and Zimbabwe.