Bafana Bafana delivered a stellar performance on Friday afternoon, defeating Uganda 2-0 at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. The victory propels the South African team to the top of Group K in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
In front of a packed crowd of 45,000 fans, Bafana Bafana showcased their dominance, with second-half goals from substitutes Thapelo Morena in the 49th minute and Patrick Maswanganyi in the dying moments of the game. The result silenced the home crowd and capped a remarkable performance by Hugo Broos’ team.
Both South Africa and Uganda had already secured their spots in next year’s AFCON tournament following South Sudan’s 3-2 victory over Congo Brazzaville on Thursday. However, Bafana Bafana showed no signs of complacency, attacking with intent and determination to claim the top spot in the group.
“We came here to win, we came here to be first in the group, and we are now first in the group,” coach Hugo Broos said after the match. “We will try to also win the game against South Sudan on Tuesday and stay at the top of the group.”
Uganda coach Paul Put admitted that Morena’s goal shifted the momentum, leaving his team unable to recover. “That strike knocked the wind out of us,” Put said. “We have three days to prepare for Congo, and I hope we can give our people a better result. I am really ashamed of this performance today.”
As Bafana Bafana return home, they sit at the top of Group K with 11 points, edging Uganda into second place with 10 points. Their final group match against South Sudan in Cape Town on Tuesday provides an opportunity to cement their lead and end the qualifiers on a high note.
Bafana Bafana’s impressive showing highlights their growing confidence and readiness for the AFCON tournament, promising excitement for South African fans in the months to come.
