Bafana Bafana Edge Mali in Madiba Cup

Two first-half goals from man of the match Dean Furman and Themba Zwane gave new Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki a perfect start to his tenure with a 2-1 win over Mali in the Nelson Mandela Challenge at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

This was the fifth meeting between the two countries – with the head to head now standing at two wins for each nation, with one match drawn.

South Africa went into the half-time break leading 2-0.

Furman who played a blinder of a match sent the Malian goalkeeper the wrong way to give Bafana Bafana a 24th minute lead after Thulani Serero was brought down in the box.

Zwane on for the injured Keagan Dolly scored the second goal for Bafana on the stroke of half-time.

South Africa were in control for most of the match but a 75th-minute Mali goal from Sekou Koita ensured a tense finish to the entertaining contest.

Ntseki’s appointment to the Bafana Bafana hot seat has received criticism from many quarters as he has never been a head coach before at senior level.

Ntseki, a former head coach of the South African U-17 Men’s National Team, former assistant coach of the South African U-20 Men’s National Team as well as former assistant coach of Bafana Bafana also had a stint with Banyana Banyana.

Judgment on Ntseki technical acumen and tactical astuteness will however have to be delayed barring this result as Mali lacked the core of their players who took them to the last 16 of the Cup of Nations in Egypt this year.

This friendly with silverware at stake was of significant importance to Ntseki to assess his playing personnel ahead of a much sterner test against Ghana in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in November.

“It’s a good confidence booster going to Ghana having played and won against a team like Mali, a very strong team one must say. Now we’re looking forward to play Ghana in Ghana” said Ntseki in a post match interview

The clash in honour of the late State President Nelson Mandela saw SAFA in its 25th anniversary partnership of the Nelson Mandela Challenge donate R1.5 million to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund.

By Gerald Dandah