Bafana Bafana opened their 2025 COSAFA Cup account with a 1-0 defeat to Mozambique in Group A in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.
The home side dominated possession in the opening half, however could not produce a goal on target as they wasted too many chances.
Kamogelo Sebelebele had an early chance inside the opening 10 minutes from range but sent the ball over the bar. The visitors had two clear chances, the first from a set-piece that Ime Okon cleared and then in the 14th minute through Antonio Sumbane who forced Thakasani Mbanjwa to make a save.
After that it was a one way traffic, with Bafana getting into good scoring positions. Vuyo Letlapa had a an opportunity to score but missed the target. Â
With Kabelo Dlamini and Sanele Barns working the right side, captain Victor Letsoalo and Puso Dithejane were wasteful with the last ball in front of goal, missing several chances leaving the encounter deadlocked at half-time.
There were no immediate changes for both sides at the start of the second half and the tempo of the game also dropped. Mozambique looked to have broken the deadlock in the 56th minute from a counter-attack where Oscar Samuane hit the woodwork and the rebound finding Dithejane who tapped home an own gaol. However, the Video Assistant Referee cancelled the goal for offside.
But the Mambas eventually scored in the 73rd minute from Sumbane capitalising on a second ball that was punched away my Mbanjwa.
Six minutes from that Bafana thought they had a life line with a potential penalty after Samuane was suspected of a handball in his box but VAR came to Mozambique’s rescue not giving the spot-kick.
South Africa will face Zimbabwe in their second group math on Saturday.
