South Africa got their 2025 COSAFA Cup campaign off to a disappointing start on Wednesday afternoon, as they succumbed 1-0 at the hands of Group A rivals Mozambique at the Free State Stadium.

Despite dominating possession and creating more goal scoring opportunities compared to the Mambas, Bafana were ultimately undone by a lack of precision in attack, and an inability to keep a clean sheet.

South Africa bossed the game from the early minutes, enjoying the lion’s share of possession and forcing Mozambique to sit deep in defence.

The hosts were inches away from claiming the lead in the 21st minute when Victor Letsoalo cut inside from the left and unleashed a shot which rattled the frame of the goal.

A couple of minutes later a Kabelo Dlamini corner kick flashed across the face of goal, with Aden McCarthy just unable to meet the ball at the far post.

Bafana’s attacking pressure continued and Puso Dithejane went close in the 29th minute with a shot from the edge of the box that travelled just over the crossbar.

The hard-running defender was in threatening action again just before the whistle for half time, shooting over the target after good work down the right flank by Sanele Barns.

Dithejane was then guilty of scoring a most unfortunate own goal 12 minutes into the second stanza, as Antonio Sumbane’s shot rebounded off the crossbar and hit the Bafana right-back on the knee before finding the net.

However, there was a reprieve for Dithejane and South Africa, as the goal was ruled out by VAR for an offside in the build-up.

However, the Mambas were able to break the deadlock with a legitimate goal in the 73rd minute. Keyns Abdala had space and time to hit a volley in the penalty area, and although his effort was well saved by Bafana goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa, the subsequent loose ball was steered home at the back post by Sumbane for 1-0.

South Africa thought they had been given a path back to parity when they were awarded a penalty with just over 10 minutes of regulation time to play, but the referee, after being directed by VAR to review his decision, ultimately decided that Mozambique’s Oscar Cherene was not guilty of a deliberate hand-ball and reversed his call.

Bafana threw men forward in what remained of regulation time, plus nine minutes of added time, but they were unable to carve out any clear scoring chances with which to test goalkeeper Acaio Muendane.

The teams will return to Group A action on Saturday, June 7, with Mozambique facing Mauritius and South Africa taking on Zimbabwe.

South Africa 0
Mozambique (0) 1 (Sumbane 73’)

SA: Mbanjwa, Dithejane (Gcaba 86’), Okon, McCarthy, Letlapa, Mkhize (Shabalala 66’), Moralo, Dlamini (Duba 78’), Barns, Sebelebele (Ramabu 78’), Letsoalo (Radiopane 78’)

Moz: Muendane, Abdala (Neves 88’), Baptista (Crimaldo 60’), Chamito, Cherene, Edumondo (Domingos 32’), Guebuza, Machava, Pedro, Sumbane, Tropa