AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: South Africa Dominates Congo with a 5-0 Victory

South Africa delivered a commanding performance in their AFCON 2025 Qualifiers on Friday, October 11, with a resounding 5-0 victory over Congo at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The win catapulted Bafana Bafana to the top of Group K, matching Uganda’s seven points but taking the lead due to a superior goal difference.

Teboho Mokoena was the star of the match, scoring twice in the first half. His first goal came in the 12th minute, giving South Africa an early advantage. He followed up with a second strike just before the half-hour mark, further solidifying their control.

As Congo struggled to mount any serious challenge, Bathusi Jurry Aubaas made it 3-0 in the 37th minute, leaving the visitors reeling by the half-time break.

Bafana Bafana showed no signs of slowing down in the second half. Lyle Foster extended the lead with a well-placed shot seven minutes into the final period, and Rayners Iqraam completed the rout in the 78th minute, securing South Africa’s second win of the qualifying campaign.

The victory leaves South Africa at the top of Group K, sharing seven points with Uganda, who won their match against South Sudan 1-0 on the same day. Uganda’s win came at the Mandela National Stadium, edging them closer to securing a spot in the AFCON tournament.

Next, Congo will have a chance at redemption when they host South Africa on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in a crucial fourth-round match of the qualifiers. Meanwhile, Uganda will travel to Juba to face South Sudan on the same day.

South Africa’s solid defense and clinical finishing in this one-sided encounter underscore their growing momentum as they look to secure qualification for AFCON 2025.