Picture: The Bafana Bafana players against Tunisia/Google
By OBAKENG MAJE
Bafana Bafana is through to the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a 0-0 draw with Tunisia. The draw guaranteed Bafana Bafana a passage out of the group stages of the Côte d’Ivoire-held tournament.
Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos’ charges put up a masterful defensive display to keep the North Africans at bay and finished second and a point behind Group E winners Mali. Now, the South African senior men’s team will play again in Morocco as their Round of 16 opponents.
Broos said: “The Bafana Bafana vs Tunisia encounter was a tense battle of wills that was marked by furious tackles, especially during a first half that was balanced on a knife edge. Some of the tackles looked dangerous, but the referee allowed the play to continue.
“The best chance of the opening period fell to Evidence Makgopa in the 27th minute. But his effort flew agonizingly close to the upright, to the relief of Tunisia goalkeeper Bechir ben Saïd. The two sides went into the halftime break still tied at 0-0.”
He said the second period played out in a similar fashion, with Themba Zwane controlling things and delivering another man-of-the-match performance for the South Africans.
Meanwhile, Zwane said: “We wanted to qualify for the next round and we did well as a team. We managed to get a point today and overall as a team we did well.”
The Guardian 