Moses Mabhida Stadium -
Bafana (0) 0
Gambia (0) 0
Bafana Bafana’s attacking gamble against Gambia backfired as a makeshift frontline was neutralised in a dour draw in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Durban on Saturday night.
Newcomer Thamsanqa Gabuza and a five-man attacking midfield failed to click as the West Africans comfortably sat back and dismantled the home team’s forays with a calmness that belied their lowly ranking and their relative new-look team.
Gabuza was thrust into the starting line-up after one training session and after he was replaced the side had no attacking thrust aerially, while on the ground the Gambians were hardly lacking in pace to close down the home midfielders.
After the drama of a four-hour delay because of the late arrival of some of the match officials, the clash got underway at 7pm with the expected line-up.
As released by coach Ephraim Mashaba on the eve of the game, the squad did not reflect any major surprises.
Right-back Anele Ngcongca shouldered the captain’s responsibilities ahead of goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, and striker Gabuza came in from the international wilderness to lead the attack in front of a loaded attacking midfield dominated by Europe-based pros.
Mashaba promised to take the game to the visitors, which Bafana tried to do early on, via the foreign trio of Thulani Serero, Ayanda Patosi and May Mahlangu, supported by home-based Oupa Manyisa, who appeared restricted on the right flank.
The first clear move on the Gambian goal warmed Gabuza to the crowd of about 20 000 as he collected Patosi’s threaded pass and fired a shot which goalkeeper Modou Jobe blocked.
However, that was about it from the lanky marksman for the rest of the half, as he faded along with South Africa’s attacking thrusts.
Manyisa attempted a shot at the quarter-hour mark which the goalie gloved cleanly at the second take.
The Bucs man who sat out part of the training because of tight muscles was replaced injured six minutes before the break by livewire Mandla Masango.
There were mostly half chances from Mahlangu, Ngcongca and Matlaba as the 160th-ranked side in the world sat back and worked their way forward through counter-attacks.
The best effort in the opening period came off Patosi’s free kick, which the ’keeper dropped, but the ball rolled past the post and out for a corner.
The team, nicknamed the Scorpions, had no sting, though they were unruffled in their task. Rebuilding after a ban for age-group cheating, their federation appointed Swiss coach Raoul Savoy last month and scoured the globe for players.
As many as six players debuted this week in an international 1-1 friendly against Uganda. At right-back Ousman Koli was a towering figure and teenager Sulayman Marreh tried to orchestrate their midfield.
After the break Savoy gave his attack fresh legs as Assan Ceesay took over from Omar Colley and he packed his midfield with the introductions of Ken Mansally and Hamza Barry. Needing to counter Gambia’s “park the bus” strategy, Mashaba sent on Thuso Phala and Siphelele Ntshangase for Gabuza and Serero respectively.
With 15 minutes to go Thabo Matlaba rifled a shot which the goalkeeper parried, but to the dismay of the crowd Phala’s follow-up went straight to the ’keeper.
Ntshangase had the miss of the game with two minutes of regulation time left, when he shot wide from a good angle with only Jobe to beat.
Gambia deservedly banked a point while for South Africa it marked a continuation of a barren run following from the disappointment of the early exits from the Afcon tournament earlier this year and the recent Cosafa Cup event.
Bafana Bafana’s next qualifier is away to Mauritania in early September.
Today the side leaves for Cape Town, where they host Angola in an international friendly on Tuesday afternoon.
SA: Itumeleng Khune, Thabo Matlaba, Rivaldo Coetzee, Anele Ngcongca, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Oupa Manyisa (Mandla Masango 39), Andile Jali, May Mahlangu, Thulani Serero (Siphelele Ntshangase 67), Ayanda Patosi, Thamsanqa Gabuza (Thuso Phala 70)
Gambia: Abdou Jammeh, Sulayman Marreh, Demba Savage (Ken Mansally 65), Pa Modou Jagne, Modou Barrow, Omar Colley (Assan Ceesay 53), Ebrima Sohna, Pa Amat Dibba, Sanna Nyassi (Hamza Barry 78), Modou Jobe, Ousman Koli
Referee: Hamada Nampiandraza
Sunday Tribune