Bafana Crash Out In CHAN Qualifying

Bafana Bafana will not be at next year’s CHAN finals in Algeria, after crashing out in the second qualifying round, as they were humbled 4-1 by Angola at the Dobsonville Stadium on Sunday afternoon, losing 6-1 on aggregate.

While Angola made just one change to the team, it was a very different-looking Bafana team who came into this game, with nine changes to Helman Mkhalele’s squad, and many of those new faces walking into the starting line-up.

Needing to turn around a two-goal deficit, it was unexpectedly the South Africans who were on the front foot from the kickoff, and Bafana grabbed the early lead, as Prince Nxumalo’s well-struck header from Monnapule Saleng’s free-kick found the back of the net in the sixth minute.

A minute later Bafana thought they had a penalty for a handball but the referee wasn’t interested. 

Wayde Jooste’s deflected free kick in the 14th minute flew just over the goal, while Macbeth Mahlangu headed wide from the resulting corner. Jooste’s free-kick attempt in the 19th minute needed a save from Adilson Cipriano.

But Bafana’s early pressure began to slip away, and as time ticked on the more experienced Angolans began to take control.

Angolan captain Herenilson Do Camro’s shot in the 21st minute took a deflection and went behind, while Saleng’s free kick in the 24th minute needed Cipriano’s intervention. Two minutes later Angola went close again after an excellent run into the box by Ambrosini Salvador, but his shot went narrowly wide of Reyaad Pieterse’s goal. Nxumalo tried a first-time shot in the 38th minute, but it was always going off target. 

And disaster struck for Bafana, when Mosa Lebusa scored an own goal a minute later, his attempt at a defensive header going into his own net.

Nxumalo’s header from a corner was off target in the 43rd minute, while he had another effort two minutes later cleared off the line, and it was 1-1 — 3-1 to Angola aggregate — at the half-time break.

Thabiso Kutumela’s effort in the 48th minute flew high and wide, as did Jaredi Texeira’s attempt three minutes later at the other end. Pieterse was needed to save as Pedro Miguel fired in the 54th minute.

Pieterse made a big save in the 58th minute, getting down to stop Delvi Viera at close range, while substitute Siphesihle Ndlovu fired over a minute later.

The tie was as good as over for Bafana as Viera fired in past Pieterse in the 65th minute to make it 2-1 on the day.

It was 3-1 in the 74th minute as Joaquim Paciencia blasted in a free kick that struck the upright and crossed the line.

It was 4-1 in the 77th minute, Daniel Kilola touching it in from a free kick as the floodgates opened.

There were a few late half-chances for the hosts, but when the final whistle it was an embarrassing home defeat for Mkhalele’s team, who flattered to deceive in the opening minutes, but in the end handed Angola a historic first win in South Africa.

In this edition of iDiski Times, we talk to Sibusiso Mabiliso who talks about his time at Kaizer Chiefs and how he feels he didn’t really get the chance to show what he was capable of. We also hear from African football legend Yaya Toure, who discusses the significance of Benni McCarthy’s appointment at Manchester United as well as his ambitions to help grow the game. Get this and a whole lot more in the full edition below: