SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, Kumasi, Gabon | Monday 10.00am.
South Africa 3 (Bartlett 54, 77, Ngobe 42)
Gabon 1 (Nzigou 20)
THE African Nations Cup is a marathon, not a sprint, and Bafana Bafana did enough in central Ghana on Sunday night to suggest they can make a serious challenge for a trophy held by Egypt.
Teams that set a blistering pace in the three-week tournament often falter long before the finish line and South Africa are now well placed to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo here on Thursday and top Group B.
This should prove the toughest test of the mini-league as the Congolese are always fierce competitors despite shambolic preparations and took Bafana Bafana to extra time in the 1998 semi-finals.
Gabon did provide an early fright with 16-year-old Shiva Star Nzigou — the youngest footballer to play in the 43-year tournament — putting the outsiders ahead midway through the first half.
It was a goal which confirmed the belief that South Africa are defensively vulnerable down the flanks as Daniel Cousin shrugged off several challenges and his low cross was superbly finished by the French-based teenager.
Credit must go to Lucas Radebe and his boys for not panicking and they came close to equalising soon after when veteran midfielder John “Shoes” Moshoeu headed a Helman Mkhalele cross against the upright.
Gabon were gradually being pushed back and the breakthrough came just before half-time when Dumisa Ngobe justified his slightly surprising selection ahead of Thabo Mngomeni by heading a Quinton Fortune free kick into the net.
South Africa took command in the second half before a near-capacity 50000 crowd at the Asokwa Stadium and Fortune from Manchester United played a central role in the second goal nine minutes after the restart.
His free kick dipped behind unimpressive goalkeeper Jacques Deckoussou and Bartlett from Swiss club Zurich scored from an acute angle to give his team a lead that was rarely threatened.
But a third goal was needed to assure maximum points and it dutifully arrived with 13 minutes left when a cross into the Gabonese penalty area eluded friend and foe and unmarked Bartlett had the simplest of tasks in scoring.