Bafana Bafana’s bid to get an early berth at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier was delayed after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Congo Brazzaville last night at the Stade Alphonse Massamba-Debat de Brazzaville.
The team needed a win, to get an automatic seat at next year’s continental showpiece.
Elias Mokwana put the visitors ahead in the 33rd minute, before Congolese striker Andre Bassouamina equalised just before the break.
Bafana’s coach believes that the team’s chance to win the match was hampered by the injury suffered by star player Themba Zwane, who was stretched off the field in the first half with an injury and was replaced by Patrick Maswanganyi
“Themba Zwane is a very important player for us. It was not a good thing for us that Themba had to go out with an injury.
It is a big injury, it is an Achilles tendon injury, and I’m afraid he will be out for months.
So, again, when you lose such an important player, it’s difficult, certainly in a game where you dominated.
It’s always difficult to lose such a player because Themba is someone who can keep the ball, who can give the last pass.
So, he was not there and maybe that was also a reason why we didn’t play so well,” said Broos.
Bafana Bafana remain in second place in Group K, and only need a win in the last two remaining fixtures against Uganda or Sudan in November to qualify for Morocco.
