Cape Town - It’s now almost certain that Bafana Bafana will not qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). After on Tuesday night’s 0-0 draw with Cameroon at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, the South Africans’ hopes may not be completely snuffed out, but the chances are very slim indeed.
As things stand in their qualifying group for the continental event in Gabon next year, Cameroon are top with eight points, followed by Mauritania on seven, Bafana with three and Gambia on two points.
With two games to go in the qualifying campaign, the equation for Bafana is that they have to win both their remaining fixtures, finish on nine points, and hope to go through as one of the best second-placed finishers. It’s a long shot, though…
But, essentially, they have only themselves to blame. Bafana have been disappointing in the qualifiers, even losing to little-known Mauritania last year. Last night, there wasn’t all that much to enthuse over either, especially considering how important victory was for their qualification hopes.
The tempo for the encounter was set early on as group log-leaders Cameroon, clearly happy to leave South Africa with a point, allowed Bafana to have the ball. The west Africans, though, were organised and the game plan was to minimise the space available to the home team.
They did so effectively, resulting in a game plan in which play was largely restricted to midfield. Chances were few and, all in all, with Bafana not showing much enterprise, especially in the first half, Cameroon were content to stick to a tight, defensive and disciplined approach.
But for a side desperate to win, in order to keep alive their qualifying hopes, Bafana were far too ponderous and lethargic on the ball. With Cameroon allowing them to hog possession, it would have been far more threatening if the South Africans had attacked with more gusto. While there was a little more purpose and energy in the second half, they never did enough to get behind the cohesive Cameroonian defensive unit. And, with very little movement on and off the ball, in the end Bafana got the disappointing result their rather scrappy performance deserved.
Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba was forced into making three changes to the team that started in Limbe, Cameroon, at the weekend. With Anele Ngcongca, Thabo Matlaba and Mpho Makola out injured, they were replaced by Sifiso Hlanti at leftback, Thulani Serero in midfield, while Rivaldo Coetzee slotted into central defence.
The South Africans had an early opportunity when Wits’ man Hlanti, on debut, curled a free-kick towards the top corner, but his effort was tipped over by Cameroon’s 19-year-old goalkeeper, Fabrice Ondoa. Rightback Thulani Hlatshwayo was also presented with an inviting opportunity, but his headed attempt at the far post was weak.
Mashaba brought on Siyabonga Nhlapo at the start of the second half, in place of Hlatshwayo, who was fortunate to only get a yellow card after a petulant retaliation incident in the first half. It was clear the Bafana coach didn’t want to run the risk of the cautioned rightback being sent off.
Five minutes into the second period, Mashaba was forced into another change when injury forced off Bournemouth striker Tokelo Rantie, allowing Platinum Stars forward Ndumiso Mabena to come on for a Bafana debut.
Things opened up a bit in the second half and chances accrued at both ends.
Hlanti had another chance to score, with his educated left foot sending another free-kick curling goalwards, but Ondoa was again equal to the task by tipping the ball over the bar.
Cameroon, however, were always dangerous on the counter and they were desperately unlucky not to score when captain Vincent Aboubakar volleyed over from close in.
With 15 minutes remaining, Thamsanqa Gabuza was substituted, with Ajax Cape Town striker Prince Nxumalo coming on for his first appearance in a Bafana jersey.
But not even the in-form Nxumalo could spark things – and the match finished goalless, which was a fair reflection of the action on offer.
Cape Argus