In a night of missed opportunities and a second-half stumble, Bafana Bafana‘s hopes at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 opener were dashed, succumbing to a 2-0 defeat against Mali.
AFCON 2023: Bafana Bafana vs Mali match result
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The match, held at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium, saw South Africa starting strong but failing to capitalise on their chances.
The first half was marked by a series of missed opportunities for Bafana Bafana. Despite securing a penalty, Percy Tau’s inability to convert left the scoreline goalless at halftime.
Mali, holding the majority of possession, grew in confidence as the match progressed.
Their patience paid off in the 60th minute when Hamari Traore opened the scoring following a rebound off the bar from a free-kick.
This was soon followed by a second goal in the 66th minute by Sinayoko, sealing Mali’s victory.
The defeat was a bitter pill for Coach Hugo Broos and his team, who had shown promise in the opening minutes.
The presence of key players like Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane, and Mothobi Mvala, who overcame minor injuries before the match, couldn’t prevent the outcome.
Bafana Bafana’s next two fixtures in the tournament are crucial for their progression.
They are scheduled to face Namibia on Sunday, 21 January, at 22:00 CAT and will conclude their group matches against Tunisia on Wednesday, 24 January 2024, at 19:00 CAT.
