South Africa have taken a further step toward qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after playing out a 1-1 draw with Congo at the Alphonse Massemba-Debat Stadium in Brazzaville on Tuesday. Bafana Bafana, who beat the Red Devils 5-0 at home last Friday, claimed the lead via Elias Mokwana, but were pegged back by Mons Bassouamina. South Africa are second in Group K behind Uganda and enjoy a four-point lead over third-placed Congo. A win in either of their remaining two qualifiers in November will be enough to guarantee a ticket to the AFCON. South Africa carved out the first scoring chance of the match in the 12th minute, with Elias Mokwana doing great work down the right flank to tee up Themba Zwane, who saw his goal-bound shot brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Trey Vimalin. Mokwana had a great chance of his own on 25 minutes, but his low shot from the right of the penalty area skipped wide of the target, and on the half hour mark Rushwin Dortley’s header from a corner kick was cleared off the goal line by Lois Fauriel. Bafana Bafana finally broke through on 33 minutes when Mokwana burst past a defender, saw an initial effort saved by Vimalin, but was able to bundle home the rebound to make it 1-0 in favour of the visitors. SA suffered an injury blow shortly thereafter, with Zwane stretchered off and replaced by Patrick Maswanganyi in the 40th minute. Congo thought they had an equaliser via a brilliant strike from Mons Bassouamina on 44 minutes, but the offside flag ruled out the effort. However, the same player provided a fine finish to a through ball from Fauriel three minutes into added time to see the teams level at 1-1 heading into the interval. And Congo piled on the pressure in the early minutes of the second stanza, with Bryan Passi’s thumping header from a corner kick only denied by a combination of Khuliso Mudau and the crossbar, while Dortley was very lucky not to give away a penalty for a hand-ball in the box. South Africa were able to settle the game back down and claim some measure of control, though the Red Devils nearly went ahead on 84 minutes when Silvere Ganvoula had a sight of goal from the right of the penalty area, only to drag his effort wide. The teams will return to Group K action for their final two fixtures in November 2024. Congo (1) 1 (Bassouamina 45+3’) South Africa (1) 1 (Mokwana 33’) Congo: Vimalin, Andzouana, Passi, Kambamba, Fauriel (90+3’), Makouta, Ossette, Ndockyt (Loulendo 79’), Bassouamina (Andzouono 79’), Mboungou (Ibayi 86’), Ganvoula SA: Williams, Mudau, Kekana, Dortley, Modiba, Aubaas, Mokoena, Zwane (Maswanganyi 40’), Mokwana (Sibisi 88’), Appollis (Morena 69’), Rayners (Mobbie 69’)