South Africa continued their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign in dramatic fashion, securing a crucial 3-2 win over South Sudan on Tuesday at Juba Stadium.
Thalente Mbatha once again proved to be the hero, scoring a stoppage-time winner to give Bafana Bafana all the three points.
The midfielder, who netted a late equaliser against Uganda last Friday replicated his magic in added time, finding the back of the net in the dying moments for the second time in just four days.
He scored the decisive strike in the same time as he did with Uganda (90+5), crushing South Sudan’s hopes of earning their first point of the qualifiers.
South Sudan had started the match strong, with Tito Okello converting a penalty in the 15th minute to give the home side the lead.
However, Bafana Bafana responded quickly, as Oswin Appollis scored two minutes later to level the game at 1-1.
Appollis then netted his second in first-half added time, putting South Africa ahead 2-1 at the break.
The hosts refused to back down, with Valentino Kuach Yuel scoring in the 58th minute to make it 2-2, giving the South Sudanese fans hope of a positive result.
However, Mbatha, who had come on in the 72nd minute, had other ideas. In a repeat of his late heroics against Uganda, he calmly slotted home in stoppage time to seal the victory for South Africa.
The win lifts South Africa to second place in Group K, level on points with leaders Uganda, who defeated Congo 2-0 yesterday. South Africa, however, trail Uganda on goal difference.
Bafana Bafana will next face Congo at home on October 11, while South Sudan will travel to Kampala to play Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, on the same day.
