Bafana Bafana kicked off their COSAFA Cup campaign with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Mozambique, a result that leaves them at the bottom of Group A.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous opportunities, the South African side ultimately paid the price for their profligacy in front of goal, a point emphatically made by coach Vela Khumalo after the match.
Read: Bafana Bafana defeated by Mozambique in COSAFA Cup opener
The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute when Antonio Sumbane found the back of the net for the Mambas, slotting home a rebound after Bafana goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa made an initial save. This lone goal was enough to secure victory for Mozambique, who, while often on the back foot, consistently posed a threat on the counter-attack. Earlier in the game, Mozambique’s attacking prowess was evident as Ime Okon was forced into a crucial clearance, and Sumbane himself was denied by Mbanjwa.
Bafana Bafana started strongly, controlling possession and dictating the tempo. Kamogelo Sebelebele nearly broke the deadlock within the first 10 minutes, signaling a promising start.
However, this early promise didn’t translate into goals. The home side was repeatedly guilty of being wasteful, particularly in the final third, with passes often failing to connect and shots sailing wide of the target.
“We played well, we played the way we wanted to play,” Khumalo stated, acknowledging his team’s adherence to their game plan. “It’s a buildup, and we’re going to sharpen up where we need to score goals.”
Khumalo also pinpointed defensive transitions as an area for improvement. “We were not balanced when they got the goal through transition,” he explained. “We need to gather on transitions, and that’s something we’ll work on.”
Adding to Bafana’s frustration, a penalty awarded to the home side with just 10 minutes remaining was overturned after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). This decision extinguished a golden opportunity for Bafana Bafana to snatch a late equalizer and salvaged a point from the encounter.
Despite the opening day defeat, Khumalo remains optimistic about Bafana Bafana’s prospects in the tournament. He praised the team’s ability to build play from the back and generate scoring chances, emphasizing the South African style of good football.
“I’m hopeful and positive that with the way of play, the South African style of playing good football, we’re really going to get better and better,” he affirmed. However, he quickly underscored the critical need for improvement: “But to do that, we need to convert our chances.”
Khumalo is acutely aware of the pressure to perform in these upcoming games. “Losing the first game is not a good thing because we actually wanted to start with a win,” he admitted. “But now we’re under pressure, and we need to win the second game and the last game.”
Bafana Bafana will need to regroup swiftly and address their finishing woes if they hope to progress in the COSAFA Cup. The loss means South Africa face an uphill battle to qualify from Group A. They currently sit at the bottom but have two crucial matches ahead. Their next fixture is against Zimbabwe on Saturday, June 7, at Toyota Stadium, followed by a clash with Mauritius on Tuesday, June 10.