Bafana Frustrated as Eswatini Controls Botswana In a frustrating encounter, the South African national football team, known as Bafana Bafana, suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat to a spirited Eswatini side in an international friendly match played in Botswana. Despite dominating possession throughout, Bafana Bafana failed to convert their chances and were punished by Eswatini’s clinical finishing. The hosts took the lead in the 32nd minute when Mduduzi Sibandze capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home the game’s only goal. Bafana Bafana had numerous opportunities to equalize, but their poor decision-making and lack of creativity proved costly. Substitute Percy Tau came closest to finding the back of the net with a powerful strike that rattled the crossbar. The result was a major disappointment for Bafana Bafana, who are preparing for the upcoming COSAFA Cup and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The team’s inability to break down a stubborn Eswatini defense raised concerns about their attacking prowess. Coach Hugo Broos expressed his frustration after the match, saying, “We had a lot of chances, but we didn’t take them. That’s the bottom line. We need to be more clinical in front of goal.” Eswatini, on the other hand, celebrated the victory as a major upset. Coach Dominic Kunene praised his team’s performance, saying, “We defended well and took our chance when it came. We needed this confidence booster ahead of our own upcoming fixtures.” The defeat served as a wake-up call for Bafana Bafana, who have a crucial match against Angola in the COSAFA Cup scheduled for July 13. The team will need to address their attacking deficiencies if they hope to contend for silverware and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.Honors Shared on Opening Day of Cosafa CupHonors Shared on Opening Day of Cosafa Cup Despite an exciting day of action, the first day of the 2024 Cosafa Cup ended without a winner in either match. Hosts Held by Mozambique South Africa, led by debutant captain Rushwin Dortley, scored early in the first half but allowed Mozambique to equalize in the second. Eswatini Draws with Botswana In the opening match, Eswatini and Botswana played out a thrilling goalless draw, with both goalkeepers making key saves. Individual Honors * Man of the Match (South Africa): Rushwin Dortley * Man of the Match (Botswana): Victor James Upcoming Matches The tournament continues on Thursday with the following matches: * Group B: Zimbabwe vs. Comoros (3:00pm CAT) * Group B: Zambia vs. Kenya (6:00pm PST)Bafana Bafana’s hopes of a winning start to their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign were dashed as they were held to a goalless draw by Eswatini in their Group K opener on Friday. Bafana Bafana struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match, with Eswatini’s defence proving resolute. The visitors, ranked 148th in the world, were content to sit back and defend, leaving Bafana Bafana with little room to operate. In the second half, Bafana Bafana upped the tempo and created a few more chances, but they were unable to find the breakthrough. Eswatini goalkeeper Nhlanhla Gwebu made a number of crucial saves to deny the hosts, including a point-blank stop from Percy Tau in the dying minutes. The result leaves Bafana Bafana with an uphill task in their quest to qualify for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. They will now face off against Botswana on Monday, knowing that they need to win if they want to keep their hopes alive. Eswatini, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their performance and will fancy their chances of causing an upset against Botswana in their next match.