South Africa will be hoping to get their first win in the 2023 Cosafa Cup In their Group A Matchday 2 against Botswana at the King Zwelithini Stadium on the afternoon of Saturday,
At 3 CAT, the game begins.
After a 1-1 draw with Namibia in their group opener on Wednesday, South Africa is now locked for second position with Botswana (three points), with one point separating them.
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After Elmo Kambindu’s header put Bafana Bafana in the hole late in the first half, they quickly came back with a goal from Rowan Human.
The team led for the remainder of the game under coach Morena Ramoreboli, but they were unable to force a victory.
The tactician noted that they will need to improve how they attack a low-block defence.
“We needed to allow them [South Africa’s players] to play, so that we see a lot of mistakes and go back, correct those mistakes and be better in the next match,” said Ramoreboli.
“As much as Botswana won, they also had their own mistakes, Namibia, as much as they scored first, they had their mistakes.
“For us it was going to be difficult as the hosts, playing against a hungry team, who wanted to win.
“Credit to the guys, they fought and adapted well to the tactical changes we made, especially in the second half.”
He added, “We’ll take the point, go back to work [on the training field] and prepare for the next match.”
Botswana defeated Eswatini 1-0 on Wednesday to get their Cosafa Cup campaign off to a strong start.
The Zebras took the lead midway through the first half thanks to a goal from Lebogang Ditsele, and they managed to hold off their rivals in the second half to earn all three points on the table.
“In the first half we were in total control,” said Botswana coach Mogomotsi Mpote. “[But] when you are leading, expect a pressure, because they will come at you.
“With the inexperienced boys that I brought, it was more tough for them.”
He added, “It will be the most toughest, [the games against] South Africa and Namibia, as you know, they always fight for that supremacy.”
South Africa and Botswana have faced off against each other 18 times in head-to-head statistics.
Two games have been tied, and Bafana Bafana have won 14 victories to the Zebras’ two.
The teams last faced off in a friendly match in September 2022 at the FNB Stadium, with SA winning 1-0 on the strength of a goal from Teboho Mokoena in the first half.
In a subsequent Cosafa Cup match in 2022, Bafana defeated the Zebras 2-1 (goals from Antonio Van Wyk and Selaelo Rasebotja) to win the consolation Plate.