Johannesburg - Ten-man South African floundered to a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Mauritania in their Group M 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Stade Olympique de Nouakchott, Mauritania, on Saturday evening.
The only first-half goal was scored by Mauritania’s Aly Abeide who struck a sixth-minute free-kick which Bafana Bafana’s goalkeeper Itumuleng Khune failed to gather the ball and it bobbed into the net (1-0).
Bafana Bafana’s Dean Furman was yellow carded in the 37th minute but worse was to follow when Siyabonga Zulu was red carded in the 49th minute for a professional foul after Ismaël Diakité was upended a few metres away from SA’s penalty area.
A splendid header by striker Thamsanqa Gabuza allowed South Africa to equalise in the 69th minute when he rose well above Mauritania’s central defence (1-1).
However, the goal, South Africa’s first in two matches, did little to lift their game and their challenge was left was flat as Saturday night’s left-over beer when Les Mourabitones scored twice in quick succession ten minutes later through Beyguili Boubacar and Moulaye Ahmed Bessam (79, 86th).
In their opening qualifying match, South African were held to a goalless draw by Gambia at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in Durban.
ANA