South Africa, Carpe Verde through; Morocco and Angola out

South Africa conceded in the 9^th minute due to poor defensive work from a corner-kick by Morocco. Two defenders sandwiching an attacker and both failed to make contact with the ball. Itumeleng Khune is as tall as the scorer and a foot taller with extended arms but he had bad take-off and poor judgment coupled with a mistimed jump to fist the ball away.

There were a few free-headers from corners after that. Bafana failed to combat competitively in midfield, that unit being caught on the wrong side of the ball more often. The Moroccans utilised their speed in those transitions to counter-attack.

The body shapes and player distribution became unbalanced and there were many North Africans unmarked in dangerous areas. The midfield cohesion and support was a little inadequate. This overloaded the defense.

The most contentious issue with the whole defensive behaviour of the team was lack of anticipation. Bafana Bafana failed to get to the ball first, save for Furman. Furman’s ball control, passing and general composure dictated the pace in midfield for the hosts. His maturity proves why he is the captain of Oldham Athletic.

The attacking unit was as guilty, even their inter-passing play. The general lack of patience on the ball going forward saw the launching of long balls to Katlego Mphela and Tokelo Rantie. The tussle for the 50-50 balls drained much energy off the front two resulting in poor co-ordination between the two.

Morocco seemed content with the single goal as they realised further attacks exposed their defence. Thuso Phala was on song pulling the strings on the right hand flank.  

It must be said that Bafana were the vicitms of questionable officiating -  firstly with penalty opportunities denied and wrong offside calls. Itumeleng Khune had to make the best saves of the tournament more than twice.

May Mahlangu complemented Furman later in the match, his efforts being rewarded by a classy equaliser with 20 minutes on the clock remaining. It was his interplay with Bernard Parker after a Siyabonga Sangweni venture upfront that created a chance to curl the ball around the forest of defenders past the goalkeeper.

A lapse in concentration in defence presented Morocco with an easy goal through six pairs of legs. Sangweni had the last laugh as he ventured forward once more, latching onto a through ball by    to fake a first time shot and then playing two touches to bend the ball around the goalie delicately. It was a classic finish by any standards and coming from a central defender.

The Cerpe Verde beat Angola by 2-1 to qualify alongside South Africa and Ivory Coast to the quarter-finals. Morocco and Angola joined Algeria on the elimination list.   

Afcon 2013 ; South Africa 2 - Angola 0

South Africa  came to the party on a productive Moses Mabhida afternoon with a near polished performance punctuated by a goal in each half, the first from an Orlando Pirates defender and the other from a Kaizer Chiefs striker.

Siyabonga Doctor Sangweni volleyed from an acute angle on the blind side while Lehlohonolo Majoro waltzed his way through the Angolan defence and from an acute angle once more, slid the ball into the net. It ended 2-0.

The presence of the immense pressure of expectation counted for nothing as the hosts played a free-flowing game, a little bit more methodical than the previous encounters since Gordon Igesund took over.

The former Moroka Swallows coach was a relieved man when Sangweni ventured forward to give the Bafana Bafana that elusive goal. That opened the flood-gates for the rest of the tournaments and suddenly, South Africa look like champions in waiting.

That victory was complemented by the 1-1 between Carpe Verde and Morocco may not have handed Bafana Bafana any perceived advantage. It would have been preferable to have the Moroccans win and have them face the hosts looking for a single point to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The way the islanders played, they have the ability to play in the quarter-finals. Morocco have lost their touch over the years and they have to dig deeper against South Africa to produce the required result.

What made the South African game a little different was the urgency to attack and win the ball back at the soonest possible convenience. Penetration was superior and the delivery of the final ball was effective.

The attacking players saw much of the ball and the Morocco defending had lots of defending to do. The execution of the ball by Sangweni was tip-top. A few more polished moves and clinical finishing could have handed Gordon Igesund’s men a bigger scoreline.

The defending unit never gave a thing away. The midfield operation was cohesive and functional, thwarting and smothering attacks while threading the balls into the necessary and vital spaces.

That smooth operation brought into life the roles of Tokello Rantie and Katlego Mphela as attackers. Furman, Parker, Mahlangu and  Phala started being more effective on the offensive by their unit always exposed the defense who happened to be resolute.

The midfield ventured forward and was turned inside out by the pace of the Angolans. Save for Mahlangu and Furman who maintained a central midfield presence, the central position looked secure. Letsholonyane and Oupa Manyisa added defensive steel and the attacking flair appropriately when they came on

It was however Majoro who came in and became ever so useful by his runs and offensive movement on and off the ball. With better finishing, he could have taken the match ball home tonight.

Bafana won their first AFCON match since 2004 when they defeated Benin in Tunisia. The best is yet to come, if they can take that performance a gear up. They ran their socks off but that was not top gear.

2012 AFCON Qualifier Results: Bafantastic Could Have Scored A Dozen.

Bafana Bafana were a class act at Mbombela Stadium when they played Niger. Katlego Mphela deftly chipped over advancing keeper and Bernard Parker acrobatically volleyed a cross from the right in the first half. Inept finishing made the small nation's goalkeeper to gain confidence enabling him to pull stunning saves in the 2nd half.

The 2010 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers were played around the continent and the South Africans will have to be in a better shape to beat Sierra Leone and the Egyptians. The defending champions. The Pharaohs are not known to be so charitable and goals may play a crucial role as to who wins the group.

Zimbabwe came out with an important 1-1 in Monrovia against Liberia. Knowledge Musona of Kaizer Chiefs was the scorer of the all important goal. Seeming weak group-mates, Cape Verde upset sleeping giants, Mali 1-0. The Warriors will need to be at their best to win the top spot in their group.

The Angolan coach was made to eat humble pie, I bet a very cold one, when he boasted of a good squad and went on to lose to Uganda 0-3. A highly paid expatriate still has a chance to get his act together in the next few games. Another highly paid expat coach from Ethiopia lost 1-4 at home against Guinea.

A local coach from Ivory Coast ensured The Elephants won 3-0 over Rwanda. It is sad that Algerian coach thought Tanzania was such a small nation that he resigned from his job after a 1-1 draw. Botswana's local coach, Stanley Tshosane, won his 3rd match in the competition, beating former FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Togo,  2-1. They previously beat Tunisia and Chad 1-0 and drew with Malawi 1-1.

Gambia beat Namibia who hired a new foreign coach 3-1 and Nigeria 2-0 winners against Madagascar while Africa power-house Morocco were held 0-0 by lowly Central Africa Republic.  Sudan beat Congo 2-0 and  Guinea-Bissau won 1-0  over Kenya.
Swaziland lost a home encounter at Somhlolo Stadium to Ghana 0-3 and Tunisia could only manage a 2-2 draw with Malawi. 

DR Congo 2, Senegal 4. Benin 1, Burundi 1. Mozambique o, Libya 0 and Zambia 4, The Comoros Islands 0.

2012 AFCON Qualifier Results: Bafantastic Could Have Scored A Dozen.

Bafana Bafana were a class act at Mbombela Stadium when they played Niger. Katlego Mphela deftly chipped over advancing keeper and Bernard Parker acrobatically volleyed a cross from the right in the first half. Inept finishing made the small nation's goalkeeper to gain confidence enabling him to pull stunning saves in the 2nd half.

The 2010 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers were played around the continent and the South Africans will have to be in a better shape to beat Sierra Leone and the Egyptians. The defending champions. The Pharaohs are not known to be so charitable and goals may play a crucial role as to who wins the group.

Zimbabwe came out with an important 1-1 in Monrovia against Liberia. Knowledge Musona of Kaizer Chiefs was the scorer of the all important goal. Seeming weak group-mates, Cape Verde upset sleeping giants, Mali 1-0. The Warriors will need to be at their best to win the top spot in their group.

The Angolan coach was made to eat humble pie, I bet a very cold one, when he boasted of a good squad and went on to lose to Uganda 0-3. A highly paid expatriate still has a chance to get his act together in the next few games. Another highly paid expat coach from Ethiopia lost 1-4 at home against Guinea.

A local coach from Ivory Coast ensured The Elephants won 3-0 over Rwanda. It is sad that Algerian coach thought Tanzania was such a small nation that he resigned from his job after a 1-1 draw. Botswana's local coach, Stanley Tshosane, won his 3rd match in the competition, beating former FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Togo,  2-1. They previously beat Tunisia and Chad 1-0 and drew with Malawi 1-1.

Gambia beat Namibia who hired a new foreign coach 3-1 and Nigeria 2-0 winners against Madagascar while Africa power-house Morocco were held 0-0 by lowly Central Africa Republic.  Sudan beat Congo 2-0 and  Guinea-Bissau won 1-0  over Kenya.
Swaziland lost a home encounter at Somhlolo Stadium to Ghana 0-3 and Tunisia could only manage a 2-2 draw with Malawi. 

DR Congo 2, Senegal 4. Benin 1, Burundi 1. Mozambique o, Libya 0 and Zambia 4, The Comoros Islands 0.

2012 AFCON Qualifier Results: Bafantastic Could Have Scored A Dozen.

Bafana Bafana were a class act at Mbombela Stadium when they played Niger. Katlego Mphela deftly chipped over advancing keeper and Bernard Parker acrobatically volleyed a cross from the right in the first half. Inept finishing made the small nation's goalkeeper to gain confidence enabling him to pull stunning saves in the 2nd half.

The 2010 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers were played around the continent and the South Africans will have to be in a better shape to beat Sierra Leone and the Egyptians. The defending champions. The Pharaohs are not known to be so charitable and goals may play a crucial role as to who wins the group.

Zimbabwe came out with an important 1-1 in Monrovia against Liberia. Knowledge Musona of Kaizer Chiefs was the scorer of the all important goal. Seeming weak group-mates, Cape Verde upset sleeping giants, Mali 1-0. The Warriors will need to be at their best to win the top spot in their group.

The Angolan coach was made to eat humble pie, I bet a very cold one, when he boasted of a good squad and went on to lose to Uganda 0-3. A highly paid expatriate still has a chance to get his act together in the next few games. Another highly paid expat coach from Ethiopia lost 1-4 at home against Guinea.

A local coach from Ivory Coast ensured The Elephants won 3-0 over Rwanda. It is sad that Algerian coach thought Tanzania was such a small nation that he resigned from his job after a 1-1 draw. Botswana's local coach, Stanley Tshosane, won his 3rd match in the competition, beating former FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Togo,  2-1. They previously beat Tunisia and Chad 1-0 and drew with Malawi 1-1.

Gambia beat Namibia who hired a new foreign coach 3-1 and Nigeria 2-0 winners against Madagascar while Africa power-house Morocco were held 0-0 by lowly Central Africa Republic.  Sudan beat Congo 2-0 and  Guinea-Bissau won 1-0  over Kenya.
Swaziland lost a home encounter at Somhlolo Stadium to Ghana 0-3 and Tunisia could only manage a 2-2 draw with Malawi. 

DR Congo 2, Senegal 4. Benin 1, Burundi 1. Mozambique o, Libya 0 and Zambia 4, The Comoros Islands 0.

2012 AFCON Qualifier Results: Bafantastic Could Have Scored A Dozen.

Bafana Bafana were a class act at Mbombela Stadium when they played Niger. Katlego Mphela deftly chipped over advancing keeper and Bernard Parker acrobatically volleyed a cross from the right in the first half. Inept finishing made the small nation's goalkeeper to gain confidence enabling him to pull stunning saves in the 2nd half.

The 2010 Africa Cup Of Nations qualifiers were played around the continent and the South Africans will have to be in a better shape to beat Sierra Leone and the Egyptians. The defending champions. The Pharaohs are not known to be so charitable and goals may play a crucial role as to who wins the group.

Zimbabwe came out with an important 1-1 in Monrovia against Liberia. Knowledge Musona of Kaizer Chiefs was the scorer of the all important goal. Seeming weak group-mates, Cape Verde upset sleeping giants, Mali 1-0. The Warriors will need to be at their best to win the top spot in their group.

The Angolan coach was made to eat humble pie, I bet a very cold one, when he boasted of a good squad and went on to lose to Uganda 0-3. A highly paid expatriate still has a chance to get his act together in the next few games. Another highly paid expat coach from Ethiopia lost 1-4 at home against Guinea.

A local coach from Ivory Coast ensured The Elephants won 3-0 over Rwanda. It is sad that Algerian coach thought Tanzania was such a small nation that he resigned from his job after a 1-1 draw. Botswana's local coach, Stanley Tshosane, won his 3rd match in the competition, beating former FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Togo,  2-1. They previously beat Tunisia and Chad 1-0 and drew with Malawi 1-1.

Gambia beat Namibia who hired a new foreign coach 3-1 and Nigeria 2-0 winners against Madagascar while Africa power-house Morocco were held 0-0 by lowly Central Africa Republic.  Sudan beat Congo 2-0 and  Guinea-Bissau won 1-0  over Kenya.
Swaziland lost a home encounter at Somhlolo Stadium to Ghana 0-3 and Tunisia could only manage a 2-2 draw with Malawi. 

DR Congo 2, Senegal 4. Benin 1, Burundi 1. Mozambique o, Libya 0 and Zambia 4, The Comoros Islands 0.