Bafana goes down to Desert Foxes

Africa’s number one ranked national team Algeria got off to an exciting winning start in Group C of African Cup of Nations on Monday night with a come-from-behind 3-1 triumph over South Africa in Mongomo at Equatorial Guinea.

Bafana Bafana succumbed to the pressure of the Desert Foxes after creating several scoring chances that went to waste. The South Africans were the first to score against the Desert Foxes but they failed to maintain their lead after Algeria came from behind to win the highly and tactically contested match.

It was an inspiring fight-back by Algeria, who went top of the table on goal difference in Group C, which has beens branded “the group of death” after Senegal defeated Ghana 2-1 earlier.

Goals from Algeria’s Faouzi Ghoulam and Islam Slimani clinched the match for the top-ranked African team after a Bafana’s defender Thulani Hlatshwayo scored an own-goal. Bafana’s goal was scored by Thuso Phala in the first half of the match.

Former Orlando Pirates striker Tokelo Rantie squandered a great opportunity to double the advantage for Bafana after firing a penalty over off the crossbar.

The Desert Foxes started the game with eleven players in the squad that reached the second round of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. In the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the Desert Foxes forced eventual champions Germany into extra-time before bowing out with a loss.

Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba’s boys went to the match without suspended defensive partners of Erick Mathoho and Rivaldo Coetzee. The match started off with young Coetzee and Hlatshwayo manning the central positions.

Coetzee, who plays for Ajax Cape Town suffered a gruelling injury before half-time and Mashaba had to introduce Bidvest Wits Siyabonga Nhlapho into the right back and switched Anele Ngcongca to the central defence.

The Desert Foxes had an early advantage of playing with the ball during the beginning of the game, retaining possession and pushing forward but failed to trouble Bafana goalkeeper Darren Keet. However, Bafana’s striker Rantie, who ply his trade for the English second-tier league leaders Bournemouth, proved menace at the other end and threatened the Algerians with his pace.

Captain Dean Furman came close to ending the nil-nil stalemate midway through the opening half after he produced an explosive shot from outside the box but Algeria’s goalkeeper Rais Mbolhi slightly saved the shot that eventually hit the crossbar.

Mbolhi twice saved the Desert Foxes as half-time approached after dispossessing Sibusiso Vilakazi and then blocking an Andile Jali shot with his leg.

Despite all the lost chances in the first-half, Rantie’s back-heel assisted Phala to break the deadlock on 51st minutes of play with a close-range shot wide of Algeria’s goalkeeper. But a few minutes later, Rantie’s penalty flew over the crossbar after Vilakazi was fouled in the eighteen area.

The Algiers fought back and scored twice within six minutes midway through the second half to turn the tables. Algeria’s victory wrapped up seven minutes from time as Keet failed to handle Slimani’s shot that slipped under his body and hit the back of the net.