FILE - DR Congo's midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy fights for the ball with Bafana Bafanaโs Teboho Mokoena in an Africa Cup of Nations match earlier this year. Mokoena scored a brace in Bafanaโs win over Congo-Brazzaville on on Friday. FILE - DR Congo's midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy fights for the ball with Bafana Bafanaโs Teboho Mokoena in an Africa Cup of Nations match earlier this year. Mokoena scored a brace in Bafanaโs win over Congo-Brazzaville on on Friday. Picture: Sia Kambou / AFP
Bafana Bafana produced one of their best displays of the Hugo Broos-era when they demolished Congo-Brazzaville 5-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Gqeberha on Friday night.
Midfielder general Teboho Mokoena scored a brace in the first 30 minutes of the match, which included a thunderbolt from just outside the penalty area that led to some overzealous fans running on to the pitch and celebrating with the players.
The Mauritanian referee briefly halted the match, before more security officials were deployed around the field to prevent any further crowd trouble. However, the only people that needed protecting were the visitorsโ defenders.
Congo-Brazzaville already had a difficult week after only arriving in Gqeberha hours before kickoff. This was a result of their military reportedly forcibly removing the football federationโs staff from their offices last weekend, which resulted in an administrative nightmare for the team travelling to the fixture.
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โ SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) October 11, 2024
โฝ๏ธ โผโโถโ: Teboho Mokoena strikes again!
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๐ https://t.co/26PdrPrnVE#SABCSportFootball #AFCONQ2025 pic.twitter.com/7ZgllUKjpV
But Congo still had to be put away, and Bafana duly obliged with a sparking display of football, after their coach Broos had asked his players to stand up following below par performances in their matches against Uganda and South Sudan.
Mokoena was sensational in first half, showing none of the rust that pundits such as Doctor Khumalo feared after being ignored by the Mamelodi Sundowns coaches so far this season.
Mokoena headed home unmarked from a Oswin Appolis corner in the 13th minute, triggering wild celebrations in the Bay.
But it was the second goal that had the nation on their feet, as he hit a half-volley as sweet as they come to riffle home. His celebration seemed to be just a little reminder to the Sundowns coaches of his ability.
Bathusi Aubaas then scored Bafanaโs third after Appolis also found him with a pin-point corner kick, to give the Bafana just reward for their efforts.
The second half was also one-way traffic, with Bafana just cutting through midfield and down the flanks.
Elias Mokwana found himself free on the left flank in the 52nd minute, before squeezing the ball through to Lyle Foster to score Bafanaโs fifth.
Foster, however, injured himself when going for his brace in the 66th minute when he collided with the Congo goalkeeper while trying to get a shot off inside the box.
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โ SABC Sport (@SABC_Sport) October 11, 2024
โฝ๏ธ โผโโถโ: Lyle Foster!
๐ฟ![CDATA[]]>๐ฆ 4โฃ โ0โฃ ๐จ![CDATA[]]>๐ฌ
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๐ https://t.co/26PdrPrnVE#SABCSportFootball #AFCONQ2025 pic.twitter.com/wVWcXD9NN3
But his replacement Iqraam Rayners showed he is no slouch in front of goal, after tapping in from a tight angle after pouncing on a misplayed pass by the Congo goalkeeper.
Congo had some chances towards the end of the match, but Bafana captain Ronwen Williams made clutch saves to keep a clean sheet.
The teams will now travel to Brazzaville for the return match on Tuesday. Bafana are still behind Uganda in the Group K standings, but will qualify for Morocco if they come away with the win.
@JohnGoliath82