₦airaland Forum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otkCs_oUEnY?si=SlCNcldWxe4N22hv

Bafana Bafana prodded, pressured and picked apart Lesotho's resolute defence without losing their patience.

They hit the side net, shook the sky, pummelled the post and when they found the target – Sekhoane Moerane was in a mean and ungiving mood in Lesotho's goals.

But they remained patient.

Likuena defended in numbers, camping in their own half and barely attempting to trouble Ronwen Williams who didn't make a single save. But they remained patient.

Lyle Foster endured a frustrating night, while Percy Tau couldn't find his roar. But they, too, remained patient.

Relebohile Mofokeng tormented the visitor's defence, creating and finding himself at the end of enough chances to easily help Bafana record a new big win margin to eclipse their 5-0 victory over Congo-Brazzaville in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

But he, just like everyone the green and gold of Bafana, remained patient.

The 2-0 score-line – against a nation that has a semi-professional league, with some of their best players campaigning in South Africa's amateur structures and ranked 149th in a 210-member system – doesn't give the full picture of the significance of this result.

In years gone by, these are the type of games where Bafana would have slipped up – losing their patience when they struggle to penetrate ultra defensive minnows and end up being caught on a counter for a sucker punch.

But they have drastically improved in that regard, keeping their structure when things didn't work out after throwing everything at their opponents.

Hugo Broos kept his composure on the bench, with his cool persona rubbing off on his players who kept passing the ball around as if to hypnotise the bus that Lesotho parked.

Broos and his Bafana knew what Lesotho was going to throw at them.

They saw eSwatini play similarly against Cameroon, in a match played on Wednesday that the team watched together at their base – The Ranch, just outside of Polokwane.

So, when Lesotho applied the same approach – Bafana knew that patience was going to be their most important arsenal.

They played a brand of enterprising football, controlled the game but also showed a fighting spirit when that was needed.

The crowd also played their part, coming in numbers to fill Peter Mokaba Stadium in a continuation of South Africans showering Bafana Bafana with love.

That support, which didn't give up on Bafana in their most frustrating spells, fuelled Broos' men in their attempt to break down a stubborn defence.

"When you see the crowd today, how they supported and pushed us – they really helped us," said Broos after the match.

"They pushed us to score the goals. I can only be happy. I am happy with the performance of my team. I said in the pre-match meeting that today we are going to fight more than just play beautiful football – but we did both.

"We played beautiful football and also fought. We had seven or eight good chances to score. We learned a lot from the Afcon, and in a game like this where not everything is beautiful, you have to fight."

That crowd, however, turned on Tau when he couldn't find the back of the net.

Their reaction wasn't as animated because of the goals that Relebohile Mofokeng and Jayden Adams scored to give Bafana three points that put them at the top of their group.

Mofokeng, 20, and Adams, 23, put on a display that gave a hint that Bafana's future could be prosperous.

Even though the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) later this year and the 2026 FIFA World Cup are the main targets – Broos has also been preparing the team with an eye on the future.

That future looks in safe hands, with not just the pair doing well but also a number of youngsters in the Premier Soccer League and even abroad raising their hands.

The control that Bafana played with, despite missing two regulars in defence (Rushwin Dortley and Aubrey Modiba), without their playmaker and his potential successor (Themba Zwane and Patrick Maswanganyi) showed that the pool of players of the national team is expanding.

Broos even had the chance to give Ndamulelo Maphangule, the Venda-born midfielder, a chance to play for his country in his home crowd.

The quick-thinking Mofokeng called Maphangule to come close to him when Bafana got a throw, so that he could at least touch the ball after coming on in during referee's optional time.

Mofokeng was paying forward the gesture of Williams, who implored Broos to give the then-teenager his Bafana debut against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein last year.

The thoughtfulness and caring nature of this team is what will see them return to the summit of African football.

But to stay there and make an impact, Broos might have to make tough decisions with some of their attackers – especially Foster and Tau who have struggled to find their scoring touches, in a team that has improved up front in last few years.

The naysayers will say that this was just a win over Lesotho, but those who have seen the mess in Mauritania, Bafana being crushed by Cape Verde and silenced by Seychelles – this win showed how much progress the team has made.

Bafana didn't just beat a lowly side, but they exorcised the demons that have held them back

All these irrelevant stories because you top the league?

And you had to mention Nigeria on your useless write up!

After winning a country Trump said doesn't exist.. ☺️☺️☺️

JASONjnr:
All these irrelevant stories because you top the league?

And you had to mention Nigeria on your useless write up!

After winning a country Trump said doesn't exist.. ☺️☺️☺️

So sad SA's gonna thump Fourth-geria to qualify for the America's world cup😭

RandDigital:
So sad SA's gonna thump Fouth-geria to qualify for the America's world cup😭

Lol ....

You will not even go pass the group stage.....

And the entire Africa continent will likely not value your presence there because you've turned everyone against yourself....

Xenobastard

JASONjnr:
Lol ....

You will not even go pass the group stage.....

And the entire Africa continent will likely not value your presence there because you've turned everyone against yourself....

Xenobastard

We'll send you postcards from the Americas. Try not to have heart attacks in the meantime, remember how we peppered you at last Afcon. Get medical aid o.

RandDigital:
We'll send you postcards from the Americas. Try not to have heart attacks in the meantime, remember how we peppered you at last Afcon. Get medical aid o.

Lol....

You really don't take humiliation very serious......

You probably don't remember, it was 4-2 on a penalty shoot....

JASONjnr:
Lol....

You really don't take humiliation very serious......

You probably don't remember, it was 4-2 on a penalty shoot....

We're not the ones who were dropping like flies.

Chai, una Fourth-gerians really carry SA matter to head o.

By Tuesday we will be in second position by the grace of God.

Don’t celebrate too early , remember this post. Nigeria has this thing against SA when it comes to football, it’s like a jinx but Benin will rather top the group than SA going ahead of Nigeria.

RandDigital:
We'll send you postcards from the Americas. Try not to have heart attacks in the meantime, remember how we peppered you at last Afcon. Get medical aid o.

You peppered us but still came 3rd, olodo. 😂

Mirasteel:
You peppered us but still came 3rd, olodo. 😂

Many black Sans nor get sense at all

Mirasteel:
You peppered us but still came 3rd, olodo. 😂

You had heart attacks, we didn't. Deal with that.

South Africa, is that a country's name or a geographical location.
Xenobastards!!! No wonder Oyibo nearly finish their papa

WINDSOW:
South Africa, is that a country's name or a geographical location.

Go ask South Korea.

Your stupid sa might end up not qualifying

RandDigital:
So sad SA's gonna thump Fourth-geria to qualify for the America's world cup😭

Hahaha... SA people...

Check the space, see how confident we know you guys are just warming the first place for the real OWNERS...

We are coming to your country and beating the hell out of you guys. Take that to the bank

I can already smell you guys apprehension... You guys are scared...

Now all the pressure is on you.

We just chilling out here 😎

Hahaha... Southy wanna qualify, ain't that something...

Omoawoke:
Don’t celebrate too early , remember this post. Nigeria has this thing against SA when it comes to football, it’s like a jinx but Benin will rather top the group than SA going ahead of Nigeria.

Azin... I've never even thought of South Africa... Are they worth thinking about?? If they were, I would have spare some....


We beat them enroute to the last final..

We won our last Afcon in their home soil...

With a man down, we will beat South Africa in their country....

I love to play in their beautiful well maintained stadium...

I've never seen Super Eagle comfortable playing away except In South Africa.. It's like their stadiums were built for us.

Hahaha... Southy Wan go world cup...

Wetin una know wen dem dey do there... You think it's to loot shops.

RandDigital:
We'll send you postcards from the Americas. Try not to have heart attacks in the meantime, remember how we peppered you at last Afcon. Get medical aid o.

peppered... Lol... You are just bored...

I thought they say your Goal keeper was the best penalty catcher in the world...

Before the penalty, when both goalkeepers greeted themselves and I saw the height and weight difference of Nwabali vs a short Williams... I laugh.. Na this pawpaw Wan catch penalty...

Southy people, una dey make me laugh...
I will so pepper you guys when we beat you at home...

RandDigital:
Go ask South Korea.

And Central African Republic

With players mostly playing in the local league, commendable

JASONjnr:
All these irrelevant stories because you top the league?

And you had to mention Nigeria on your useless write up!

After winning a country Trump said doesn't exist.. ☺️☺️☺️

Trump is not God, Lesotho doesn't need his validation

RandDigital:
So sad SA's gonna thump Fourth-geria to qualify for the America's world cup😭

Look at this fuckin kaffir! even if you bushmen qualify, ain’t like you’re gonna do the continent proud. Stick to being xenophobic and cricket or whatever sport y’all engage in

RandDigital:
We'll send you postcards from the Americas. Try not to have heart attacks in the meantime, remember how we peppered you at last Afcon. Get medical aid o.

You mean just like Chidimma sent you guys postcard from the Americas last year

CaralinaXYZ:
Look at this fuckin kaffir! even if you bushmen qualify, ain’t like you’re gonna do the continent proud. Stick to being xenophobic and cricket or whatever sport y’all engage in

Hunger-gerian, been in a rice palliative stampede recently?

RandDigital:
Hunger-gerian, been in a rice palliative stampede recently?

Rest South boy let's talk football..


I'm sure you know who will qualify wena Haibo.

RandDigital:
Hunger-gerian, been in a rice palliative stampede recently?

Hahah you wish! Run along now boy before your umulungu boss catches you online