Photo Credit - Bafana Bafana - South Africa.
South Africa head coach Molefi Ntseki has revealed scoring early goals enabled Bafana Bafana to run away 3-1 comfortable winners against Egypt in their return leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers at the Suez Canal Stadium, in Ismailia, on Sunday.
Bafana went into the fixture having drawn 1-1 in the first leg in Bloemfontein one week ago and the resounding 3-1 win enabled them to progress to the final qualifying round to be played in May 2025 on a 4-2 aggregate outcome.
In the game that South Africa controlled from the onset, captain Neo Maema scored the opening goal from close range in the 15th minute and they increased the lead to 2-0 through Yandisa Mfolozi in the 26th minute. However, Egypt reduced the deficit in the 32nd minute when Mohamed Abouelenein found the back of the net.
The South Africans never dropped their heads after that Abouelenein goal and increased their lead in the 50th minute when Siphelele Luthuli scored from the penalty spot to put the game beyond the hosts.
“I think we won the game from our training sessions because the plan we had really worked out. The players managed to implement it, and they showed a high level of technical endurance,” Ntseki said after the game as quoted by SAFA website.
“That is the ability to execute the technical plan for the longest time in the game, and I think they did that. What also really worked for us today was to score early, to unsettle Egypt in their home ground.
“Also, the discipline that we had without the ball, I think was the best that one can look back at. Also, the players who were on the bench, players who were in the grandstand, I think they really gave the support we needed.”
Meanwhile, SAFA President Dr Danny Jordaan had a message to the team after the win: “Congratulations to coach Molefi Ntseki, to the HOD Jack Maluleke, captain Neo Maema, the technical staff and all the members of the team. Well done, we are so proud of what you have achieved. To beat Egypt in Egypt, and by such a comfortable score, is not something many countries can achieve.”
The 2024 CHAN will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in August, 2025.
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