Bafana Bafana claimed their first win in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers after defeating Ghana 1-0 at the FNB Stadium on Monday night.

2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier

Result: South Africa 1-0 Ghana

Date: 06 September 2021

Venue: FNB Stadium

Bongokuhle Hlongwane and Ethan Brooks came into the Bafana line-up while the Black Stars were forced into making changes as a number of their European-based star were not included, as Richard Ofori, Aleksander Djiku, Mubarak Wakaso and Andre Ayew were the only players remaining in the line-up from the win over Ethiopia.

Wakaso had a chance to give Ghana the lead after just five minutes with a free-kick from the edge of the box but his curling effort went straight at shot-stopper Ronwen Williams.

After a shaky start, Hugo Broos’ charges got into the game and Mothobi Mvala had a big chance to break the deadlock in the 31st minute from the rebound after Ofori parried Teboho Mokoena’s free-kick but the Mamelodi Sundowns star blasted his effort over the bar.

South Africa thought they were ahead eight minutes before the half-time break after Percy Tau glanced a header past Ofori after a cross by Nyiko Mobbie but the goal was disallowed for offside, although replays suggest the Al Ahly star was onside.

Bafana continued to put pressurise the Black Stars as Mvala came close to breaking the deadlock in the 68th minute with an over-head kick inside the box that sailed just wide after a cut-back by Hlongwane.

Broos made a double tactical change in the last 13 minutes, as Njabulo Ngcobo replaced Mvala and Njabulo Blom came on for Tau while the Black Stars also made a forced substitution, as the injured Ofori was replaced by Lawrence Alti-Zigi.

With seven minutes left on the clock, Hlongwane eventually broke the deadlock with a scuffed effort in the centre of the box that came off the bottom post and went over line after a cross by Mokoena.

Ghana were fired up in the closing minutes, putting South Africa under pressure but Broos’ troops were resilient and held on to clinch their first win that took them top of the group with four points.

Here’s how they lined up:

South Africa: Williams, Morena, De Reuck, Xulu, Mobbie, Mvala, Mokoena, Tau, Brooks, Hlongwane, Makgopa.

Subs: Mothwa, Bvuma, Blom, Dube, Ngcobo, Links, Maart, Mabiliso, Mbule, Singh, Letsoalo.

Ghana: Ofori, Fatawu Mohammed, G. Mensah, Djiku, J. Mensah, Wakaso, Ashimeru, Lomotey, Fameyeh, A.Ayew, Yeboah