19 August 2025 – Such was the disappointment in the South Africa changeroom moments after their dramatic 3-3 draw with Uganda at the Mandela National Stadium on Monday night that it was almost palpable.

The stunned silence spoke more than any words ever could as the players, the technical team, the staff and every single member of the camp tried to come to terms with a result that also confirmed the end road for coach Molefi Ntseki’s brave charges in this African Nations Championship (CHAN.

A victory would have taken the team to the quarterfinals of the CHAN and this seemed to be very much on the cards when the South Africans raced to a 3-1 lead late in the second half with just seven minutes remaining on the clock. But the hosts were awarded two late penalties that they scored to secure the 3-3 final score, a result that propelled them to the quarterfinals and also knocked out South Africa in the process.

On a day of high drama, the hosts were the first to put their name on the stadium’s electronic scoreboard when Jude Ssemugabi opened the scoring in the 32nd minute. Ssemugabi’s opening strike sent the 34 000-strong crowd into wild celebrations, and such was the pandemonium inside the venue named after South African icon Nelson Mandela that the deafening noise was probably heard in Mthatha and Qunu in the Eastern Cape.

But South Africa clawed their way back and equalised through Ramahlwe Mphahlele in the 52nd minute. The equaliser was not without drama as referee Vincent Kabore needed the assistance of VAR before he could confirm the goal. The South Africans then shifted a gear and increased the pressure, which eventually saw that man Thabiso Kutumela finding the back of the net in the 57th minute. Man of the match Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo scored the third to put South Africa in what appeared to be a comfortable lead in the 83rd minute.

Then the two late penalties came in quick succession and Allan Okello (88th minute) and Rogers Torach (96th minute) confirmed the dramatic comeback. Ntseki said he was proud of his players after they fought with everything they had until the final whistle.

“They showed their commitment and understood that they were playing for their country. In the game of football, like I said, there are three results (win, draw and defeat). Unfortunately, we got the result that we did not want (draw). We wanted to win, but things did not happen for us,” he said.

“As for the future, I think the country is very proud of their performances and we brought the best players that played very well in this tournament. I can’t fault any of them in terms of performance and commitment. As a coach and as a member of the team that came to represent South Africa here, we are very proud of them.”

It was a heartbreaking result for a team that overcame the odds and worked very hard to fly the South African flag in the tournament that is being held in East Africa in three countries – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda – between 2-30 August 2025.

South African Football Association (SAFA) President Dr Danny Jordaan said he was very proud of the way the players represented the country and their families, and he added that they should hold their heads high after giving their all on the pitch.

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