Baby Bafana beat Senegal on Tuesday in a penalty shootout (6-5) to advance to the final at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique.
The South African Under-23 men’s soccer team were the dominant side for most of the match, but failed to turn their possession into goals.
In the end, it was the heroics of goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo which saw the team through to the final.
After 90 minutes of regulation time, neither side had found the back of the net.
During extra time South Africa looked threatening, but as the clock wound down it was clear the winner would be decided via penalty shootouts.
Two of South Africa’s shots miraculously found the back of the net after Senegal’s goalkeeper Nick Traore got a hand to the ball.
After each side had slotted five penalties, Thamsamqa Samgweni stepped up to the plate to score South Africa’s sixth.
With match delicately poised, Khuzwayo came to the party and saved a shot from Senegal’s Yigo Ba Ibrahima to clinch the victory.
Strong Senegalese
An ecstatic Baby Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba lauded his side’s gutsy performance.
“I am excited about the win,” he said.
Mashaba said the team had done well without a recognised right wing in the side and that players had been shifted around.
The wily coach made some tactical changes in this shifting, from a long ball strategy in the first-half to a shorter game in the second.
“The Senegalese were very strong in the air and we decided to use more combinations,” said Mashaba.
South Africa was superior for most of the first-half, enjoying the majority of the possession and position.
However, this was not reflected on the scoreboard as the team were unable to get the break for which they had worked so tirelessly.
Lucky boys
The team had a few shots on target but the Senegalese keeper handled the pressure well to add to South Africa’s frustrations.
South Africa also did well to keep the opposition’s attack at bay, with Senegal struggling to get a clear shot at goal.
As the first-half drew to a close, Senegal’s offensive play intensified.
Mamelodi Sundowns’ left back Sibusiso Khumalo kept the opposition busy with some great runs and several attempts at goal.
After the interval, Senegal attacked with more intensity, but South Africa staved off attack-after-attack.
Despite a strong defensive performance, Baby Bafana could count themselves lucky as two shots by Senegal hit the goal uprights. — Sapa