Bafana Bafana ended their disappointing 2010 Africa Cup of Nations Group Four qualifying programme with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in Malabo on Saturday.
The only goal was scored by Kaizer Chiefs midfield star Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 17th minute. It was Tshabalala’s second goal for his country in 21 appearances.
The result, although too little and too late, will take some of the pressure off under-fire coach Joel Santana, who took over from fellow Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira at the end of May.
Under the inexperienced Santana, Bafana failed to qualify for their second phase of qualification for the continental showpiece in Angola in 2010.
However, they have redeemed their pride and finished their six group matches with seven points — equal to Sierra Leone who were beaten 4-1 away by group winners Nigeria also on Saturday, with Equatorial Guinea finishing bottom of the group.
The win is Bafana’s second in succession after a local-based squad defeated Malawi 3-0 in a recent friendly played at the Germiston Stadium and will have boosted the squad’s confidence ahead of Wednesday’s friendly international against star-studded Ghana at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium. — Sapa