An impressive 460 days have now passed since Bafana Bafana last experienced the bitter taste of defeat under the tutelage of head coach Hugo Broos.
In a gripping international friendly at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday, Broos’ charges emerged victorious, securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over DR Congo, courtesy of a well-placed goal by Lyle Foster.
The encounter with the Central Africans marked Bafana’s second match in the span of just three days, following their goalless showdown against Namibia on Saturday.
This rapid succession of fixtures underscores Broos’ forward-thinking approach as he gears up for the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign in November, followed closely by the eagerly anticipated Africa Cup of Nations set to kick off in January next year.
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Broos, the astute Belgian mentor, followed through on his commitment to rotate the squad, implementing seven changes from the lineup featured in the weekend’s stalemate against Namibia.
With an unwavering pledge to distribute opportunities, Broos revealed his intention to grant each member of his 23-man squad a fair chance to showcase their prowess and garner invaluable playing time while proudly donning the Bafana colours.
Captain Ronwen Williams, absent from the Namibia match, was sidelined again during the Congo face-off due to illness. Siyanda Xulu confidently took the helm, donning the armband on Saturday. Meanwhile, crowd-charmer Percy Tau was entrusted with the captaincy for Tuesday’s clash against the West Africans.
Tau’s integral role in the Bafana lineup was palpable.
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Just last year, Broos confessed publicly that Bafana needs a fit Tau in order to benefit from his talents, and midway through the first half, his decisions underscored his invaluable contribution, illustrating precisely how he enhances the dynamism of Broos’ brigade.
Choosing the unconventional, they went for a short corner kick. Mihlali Mayambela deftly played it back to the astute Tau, who then lofted a probing ball towards the goal. Mothobi Mvala swiftly connected, sending a low cross that unexpectedly deflected off a Congolese defender.
Seizing this fortuitous moment, Lyle Foster swooped in, driven by his insatiable thirst for goals. Without a second thought, he struck the ball with precision and power, propelling Bafana into the lead.
South Africa displayed liveliness in their play, taking on an equally attacking formation steered by the red-hot Brentford striker Yoane Wissa
Coming up in October, South Africa will gear up for their concluding preparatory matches for the Afcon and World Cup qualifiers, squaring off against Eswatini (13 October) on home turf and then challenging Ivory Coast (17 October) in an away duel.