South Africa and Congo played out a hard-fought 1-1 draw in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Tuesday, with both teams leaving the pitch knowing that much remains at stake in their quest for a spot in the 2025 tournament. The result gives South Africa a slim advantage in the race for qualification, while Congo’s hopes hang in the balance with just two games left to play.
The match, held in Johannesburg, saw South Africa start brightly.
The home side dominated possession early on, looking dangerous in attack and applying pressure on the Congo defense.
Their persistence paid off in the 33rd minute when midfielder Mokwana broke the deadlock, taking advantage of a defensive lapse to calmly slot the ball past the Congo goalkeeper.
The early goal sent the home fans into a frenzy, as it appeared South Africa might be on their way to securing a critical win.
But Congo had other plans. Just before the halftime whistle, they managed to equalize against the run of play.
A swift counterattack saw the Congolese side break through South Africa’s defense, with a clinical finish that silenced the jubilant crowd.
The goal shifted the momentum of the match, setting up a tense second half.
The second half was an intense, back-and-forth affair.
Both teams showed ambition, with South Africa pressing forward to regain their lead while Congo sought to complete their comeback.
Despite numerous chances, neither side could find the decisive goal.
South Africa came close on several occasions, but Congo’s defense held firm.
Congo, too, had opportunities to snatch a late winner, but their efforts were thwarted by Bafana Bafana’s defense and goalkeeper.
As the final whistle blew, both teams were left to reflect on what could have been.
For South Africa, the draw represents a missed opportunity to secure all three points, but it still puts them in a favorable position as they inch closer to securing AFCON qualification.
With two matches remaining, South Africa remains in control of their destiny.
A few more points could be enough to book their ticket to Morocco.
Congo, on the other hand, faces a more challenging road ahead.
While the draw keeps their hopes alive, they will need to win their remaining games to have any chance of qualifying.
The team will need to regroup and approach their final matches with renewed determination and focus.
With the race for AFCON qualification intensifying, both teams know that every point counts.
South Africa will be cautiously optimistic, while Congo will need to fight tooth and nail to keep their dream alive.
The next few matchdays promise to be decisive, as the teams battle it out for a spot in Africa’s most prestigious football tournament.
