A stoppage time goal by debutant Thalente Mbatha, helped Bafana Bafana of South Africa salvage a 2-2 draw against visiting Uganda, in their Group K 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday night.
Bafana opened the scoring in the 13th minute after Lyle Foster slotted home from close range thanks to a through ball from Khuliso Mudau.
Uganda, however, made it 1-1 after Denis Omedi took advantage of the Bafana defenders back-peddling before volleying the ball from outside the box to beat Veli Mothwa in the South African goal.
Three minutes later it was 2-1, as Rogers Mayo’s shot, from even further out, went through the gloves of the home team’s keeper and into the back of the net.
But in the 95th minute Orlando Pirates’ Mbatha would have the final say on his own home ground, with the 24-year-old’s shot deflected into the back of the net after he pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area.
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana next face South Sudan on Tuesday in their second Group K match.
Bafana are in the same group with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their Group C 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group.
The Eagles had to settle for a 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo, on matchday 3 of the qualifiers.
Also Zimbabwe, who are also in the same World Cup qualifying group with Nigeria and South Africa, held Kenya to a 0-0 draw away, in their opening game of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Rwanda, also in the Eagles’ World Cup and AFCON qualifying group, held Libya to a 1-1 draw away.
