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South Africa's Bafana Bafana kicked off their road to AFCON 2025 on a shaky note at home to Uganda.
South Africa's Bafana Bafana narrowly avoided a shock defeat in their AFCON 2025 qualifier opener, salvaging a 2-2 draw against Uganda's Cranes in a thrilling encounter at the Orlando Stadium.
The match began promisingly for the hosts, with Lyle Foster breaking the deadlock in the first half, much to the delight of the home crowd.
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Foster's goal seemed to set the stage for a comfortable South African victory, in line with their impressive 10-match unbeaten run.
However, the second half brought a dramatic turn of events. Uganda's Cranes, showing resilience and determination, stunned the Bafana Bafana with a quick-fire double.
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Denis Omedi equalised for the visitors, silencing the Orlando Stadium. Before South Africa could regroup, Rogers Mato struck again just three minutes later, giving Uganda a shocking 2-1 lead.
The unexpected turnaround left Hugo Broos' men reeling, as they faced the prospect of not only losing their unbeaten streak but also suffering a humiliating home defeat in their AFCON qualifier opener.
As the clock ticked down, South Africa mounted increasing pressure on the Ugandan defence. Their persistence paid off in the most dramatic fashion possible.
Deep into stoppage time, with the referee looking at his watch, Thalente Mbatha emerged as the unlikely hero. The late substitute found the back of the net in the 95th minute, sparking wild celebrations among the South African players and fans.
Mbatha's last-gasp equaliser not only preserved Bafana Bafana's unbeaten run but also saved them from what would have been a disastrous start to their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign.
While the draw will feel like a victory given the circumstances, coach Hugo Broos will undoubtedly have concerns about his team's second-half performance.
The ease with which Uganda turned the game around exposed vulnerabilities in the South African setup that will need addressing in future matches.
For Uganda, while they will be disappointed not to have held on for a famous victory, this performance will give them confidence for the rest of their qualifying campaign.
The Cranes showed they can compete with one of Africa's stronger teams and will take heart from their spirited display.
South Africa's road to AFCON 2025 has begun on a shaky note, but they remain unbeaten. Uganda, meanwhile, have sent a clear message that they are not to be underestimated in this qualifying group.
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