After a 0-0 draw on Sunday afternoon at the King Zwelithini Stadium, South Africa defeated Malawi 5-3 in the third-place playoff on penalties to win the 2023 Cosafa Cup bronze medal.

Lyle Lakay, Shaune Mogaila, Iqraam Rayners, Tshegofatso Mabasa, and Rowan Human all scored in the shootout for Morena Ramoreboli’s team, who also maintained composure until Christopher Kumwembe critically missed from 12 yards out for the Flames.

Malawi finished the tournament in a disappointing manner as they were the only team to sweep all three of their group stage games before losing to Lesotho on penalties in the semifinals.

After losing to the reigning champions Zambia 2-1 on Friday, Bafana Bafana was denied a spot in the championship game. In Durban, Patrick Mabedi’s team put them under early pressure.

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Patrick Mwaungulu’s curling free-kick just before halftime was the greatest opportunity of the first half and eight minutes into the second half, the AmaZulu custodian made a quick reaction save to stop Chimwemwe Idana.

Iqraam Rayners missed a fantastic chance to break the score at the opposite end shortly after when he made contact with a cross from the right but only managed to hit the goal frame.

The game ended scoreless after 90 minutes, necessitating a spot-kick lottery to decide the winner.

The hosts won because Human maintained his composure after Kumwembe hit the crossbar for the Flames moments before.