Elias Mokwana scored his first international goal on his debut as Bafana Bafana came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with lowly ranked European side Andorra, in their first FIFA Friendlies Series match in Annaba Algeria on Friday morning.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos gave debuts to four players in Mokwana, Thapelo Xoki, Mlondi Mbanjwa and Patrick Maswanganyi in the match.
The 2023 AFCON bronze medallist had a chance to take a lead as early as the opening minute through Mbanjwa who was set-up by Mokwana but didn’t make the opportunity count. However it was Andorra who took the lead after five minutes following a howler by Ricardo Goss, gifting Ricardo Fernandez an empty net.
Thapelo Morena had a powerful shot saved by the Andorran goalkeeper after 14th minutes. Ten minutes later Mokwana levelled for Bafana netting home his first international goal after a nice interplay with Thabang Monare.
In the second half coach Hugo Bros introduced Grant Margeman for Monare and soon after Maswanganyi almost made it 2-1 with a good ball from Mokwana but Josep Gomes made a save.
Terence Mashego also wasted a chance to put Bafana ahead just before the hour mark after Maswanganyi had set him up, with the former shooting over the bar. The Orlando Pirates man had another opportunity to hand Bafana the lead with 18 minutes left on the clock and he was again denied by the keeper.
Bafana will play Algeria in their last match of the series on Tuesday 26 March at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
