South Africa Held to Another Draw at Cosafa CupSouth Africa Held to Another Draw at Cosafa Cup At the Wolfson Stadium on Saturday, South Africa was unable to secure a victory, drawing 0-0 against Botswana in the 2024 Cosafa Cup. Despite entering the match with hopes of a win after Mozambique’s 1-0 loss earlier in the tournament, Bafana Bafana faced a determined Botswana side. The two teams remained level on points with Eswatini and Mozambique, who drew 0-0 earlier in the day. South Africa dominated early on, but it was Botswana that threatened first, with Olebogeng Ramotse’s free kick narrowly missing the bar. Bafana Bafana tested Botswana goalkeeper Victor James with a free kick from Malebogo Modise, but James made a solid save. Despite South Africa’s attacks, their final passes often lacked precision, leaving the game scoreless at halftime. The second half saw Devin Titus replaced by Mfundo Thikazi for South Africa, but it was Botswana who appeared more dangerous. Substitute Gape Thibedi fired a shot wide, and Tlamelo Kolagano was denied by a save from Mondli Mpoto. Bafana Bafana’s most dangerous chance came late in the game when Asenele Velebayi’s cross caused chaos in the Botswana defense, but the ball deflected wide. The teams will conclude their Group A campaigns on Tuesday, July 2, with Botswana facing Mozambique and South Africa taking on Eswatini.
South Africa drew again at the 2024 Cosafa Cup after being held 0-0 by Botswana at Wolfson Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After Mozambique went down 1-1 in the season opener three days ago, Bafana Bafana had hoped for a first win and the lead in Group A, but they found the Zebras a resilient and determined opponent.
Combined with a 0–0 draw between Eswatini and Mozambique earlier in the day, this result leaves all four teams in Group A level on two points.
South Africa had the upper hand from the start, but Botswana were the first to make a notable attempt. In the tenth minute, Olebogeng Ramotse fired a free kick just over the bar.
The match is exciting and the score between South Africa and Botswana is still 0-0.#GqeberhaDestinationOfChoice #ShareTheBay#LeaveNoOneBehind#BuildingTheEasternCapeWeWant pic.twitter.com/kvrVJdA5zz
— Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (@NMandelaBaymuni) June 29, 2024
Midway through the first half, the hosts tested Botswana’s Victor James with a shot straight from a Malebogo Modise free-kick, but the goalkeeper made a good save.
Bafana Bafana continued to mount more threatening attacks, particularly down the flanks, but too often their final pass or cross lacked the quality to penetrate the Zebras’ defence, leaving the game at 0-0 at half-time.
The start of the second stanza brought a change in attack for SA, with Devin Titus making way for Mfundo Thikazi on the right wing, but it was Botswana who quickly looked the more dangerous team.
Just after the hour mark, substitute Gape Thibedi fired a shot wide from a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area, and seconds later Botswana opened the opposition’s defense to put Tlamelo Kolagano through on goal, but he was denied by a suffocating save from Mondli. Mpoto.
Bafana’s most threatening moment of the second half came in the 86th minute when Asenele Velebayi whipped in a fine cross from the left in an attempt to pick out Thabang Sibanyoni, with the ball causing panic in the Botswana defense and deflecting a defender to go just wide . of the target.
The teams conclude their Group A campaigns on Tuesday afternoon, July 2, with Botswana taking on Mozambique at the Wolfson Stadium, while South Africa take on Eswatini at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
South Africa 0
Botswana 0
SA: Mpoto, Titus (Thikazi 46′), Modise, Moloisane (Mcaba 87′), Sibanyoni (A. Cupido 87′), Bern, Matuludi, Kwayiba (Rhodes 64′), Brooks (Van Wyk 58′), Dortley, Velebayi
Botswana: James, Sakana, Babutsi, Ratlhogo, Sekwai (Thibedi 55′), Ramotse, Tlhalefang (Bante 90+4′), Kolagano, Lesego, Kopelang, Mbakile (Skweyiya 62′)
