Bafana Bafana registered their first win in Group C at the African Nations Championship following a 2-1 victory over Guinea on Monday.
Bafana restored Wayne Jooste, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo and Keagan Dolly to the starting line-up on the back of a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Algeria on Friday.
It was a strong start for South Africa, who raced ahead on ten minutes when skipper Neo Maema played a quick combination with Thabiso Kutumela before slotting into the bottom-corner.
Syli Nationale battled to come alive, but enjoyed a fair share of momentum up top through Alhassane Bangoura, Mohamed Lamine Youla and Moussa Camara.
Guinea got a clear opening on the half-hour mark as a loose ball rolled into the path of Ismael Camara, who slammed the side-netting.
Moussa Camara proved decisive six minutes ahead of halftime when he nudged a few yards to the danger area and thumped into the bottom-corner.
Bafana, however, restored their lead ten minutes into the second half when Jooste raced down the right and crossed for the on-rushing Kutumela to finish from close-range.
Ntseki’s men were expectantly on the back-foot thereafter and nearly had their lead cancelled following a telling effort by Ismael Camara.
With time running out, Ntseki made a double substitution by putting in Ntando Nkosi ahead of Maema and Thamsanqa Masiya in place of Dolly.
Lapses on the side of Bafana started to show as the Syli Nationale threatened when a fierce shot outside the area by Mohamed Bangoura nestled the upright.
Bafana showed a nerve of steel and secured the win to get their campaign up and running in Group C.
Image: @BafanaBafana
Confirmed line-ups:
Bafana Bafana: Xulu, Khoza, Mphahlele, Mashego, Mngonyama, Jooste, Ndlondlo, Maema, Masuku, Kutumela, Dolly
Subs: Thuntsane, Johannes, Nkosi, Mashinini, Molaoa, Lepasa, Majadibodu, Dlambewu, Makaringe, Mbanjwa, Masiya.