WeeklySA_AdminROAD TO MOROCCO: Hugo Broos charges step up the pedal despite having already qualified for Afcon 2025
By Sports Reporter
Swashbuckling Bafana Bafana put on a show as they waltzed past Uganda in mesmerizing fashion on a sweltering afternoon at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala on Friday.
It was supposed to be the crowning moment for the home team after a satisfying Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, but coach Hugo Broos and his charges must have missed those pages on the script as they beat their hosts 2-0 during an enthralling 90 minutes of football.
Second half goals from super substitutes Thapelo Morena (49th minute) and Patrick Maswanganyi on the stroke of fulltime silenced the capacity 45 000-strong crowd, propelling the visitors to the top of Group K for the first time during the campaign.
Bafana Bafana and Uganda had already qualified for next year’s AFCON on Thursday after South Sudan beat Congo 3-2 in another Group K qualifier, but this detail did not deter Broos and his players from continuing to pursue the hosts as if this was the first match of the campaign. Broos said they would not take the foot off the pedal as they now turn their attention to Tuesday’s final AFCON qualifier against South Sudan in Cape Town.
“We came here to win, we came here to be first in the group, and we are now first in the group. We will try to also win the game against South Sudan on Tuesday, and stay at the top of the group,” he said.
Uganda coach Paul Put conceded that Morena’s goal knocked the wind out of his team, and they never recovered after that 49th minute strike. The straight-talking coach said his team would need to recover very quickly and erase the disappointment when they face Congo Brazzaville on Tuesday. “We have three days and then we face Congo, so I hope that we can give our people a good result because I am really ashamed of this performance today.”
As Bafana Bafana prepare to return home today, they are perched at the of Group K with 11 points, and long-time leaders Uganda have dropped to second place and one point behind.
Sports: Briefs
ELLIS HALL OF FAME
Banyana Banyana coach Dr Desiree Ellis will be inducted into the South African Hall of Fame this month.
The revered Women’s Africa Cup of Nations-winning coach – who led the Sasol-sponsored South African senior women’s national team to the continental title in 2022 in Morocco – will be inducted with several figures from South African football on Wednesday, 20 November 2024.
According to the South African Hall of Fame, Dr Ellis and her fellow inductees are “legends who have shaped the history of South African football and will be celebrated in a grand ceremony that recognises their unparalleled contributions both on and off the field.
Distinguished guests from across sports, entertainment, and government, including prominent figures in the world of football, will gather to honour these champions whose legacies have inspired generations.
The event will pay tribute to their accomplishments, from the victories that brought South Africa to the forefront of international soccer to their continuous influence on the sport and society.”
The Induction event will be hosted at the Montecasino Ballroom. Ghana’s Afcon 2025 bid over as four more sides qualify Jordan Ayew, wearing a white Ghana shirt with a number nine on the chest, stands with his hands on his hips Jordan Ayew took over the Ghana captaincy for this month’s qualifiers from West Ham forward Mohammed Kudus
OH, GHANA
Comoros, Mali, Zambia and Zimbabwe all booked their places at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with one round of qualifying to spare but Ghana’s hopes of reaching the tournament are over.
The Black Stars needed to win away in Angola to take their qualification bid to the final round of Group F fixtures.
A stunning long-range free-kick from Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew put the West Africans 1-0 ahead, and Abdul Manaf Nurudeen saved M’bala Nzola’s penalty to preserve Ghana’s lead before the break.
Angola, who had already qualified for the finals, equalised just after the hour mark through Zine and the match in Luanda ended as a 1-1 draw.
EYE IN THE SKY
Members of Canada Women’s coaching team were asked by senior coaching staff to fly drones over a New Zealand practice session and obtain “surreptitious film footage” before the Paris Olympics on July 20 and 22, 2024, according to an independent investigation. The coaching staff then reviewed the footage afterwards but the players did not.
On Tuesday, Canada Soccer released a redacted summary of a months-long investigation into the use of drones by the Canadian women’s and men’s national soccer teams.
Toronto-based lawyer Sonia Regenbogen declared that, “on a balance of probabilities” women’s coaching staff were “directed”, “approved” and “condoned” to spy on Canada’s opponents at the Paris Olympics, although the footage was never shown to the players.
“The situation that occurred at the Olympic Games was highly unacceptable to everybody involved,” Canada Soccer CEO and General Secretary Kevin Blue told The Athletic.
MLABA MAKES COACH PROUD
Lindelani Cricket Club coach Sandile Caluza says their development product and Proteas Women spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba was always destined for greatness.
Mlaba made history in the recently concluded ICC T20 Women’s World Cup in Dubai when she became the first Proteas Women player to take 10 wickets in a single tournament.
Speaking to SABC Sport Caluza says he is not shocked by this performance. “I’ve always believed in Nonkululeko, I wanted her to be successful.
There isn’t a coach who doesn’t want to see their players shine, we always want our players to be successful.
She was a very unique child, she was always curious about the game and always asking questions,” Caluza said.
