Preview: South Africa vs Uganda

Soccer News 2024/09/05 12:03

After several years of underperformance on the international stage, South Africa returned to prominence earlier this year when they finished third at the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d'Ivoire.


Bafana Bafana finished second in their group, which also included Mali, Namibia and Tunisia, before dispatching Morocco, the top-ranked team in the CAF region, with a 2-0 win in the round of 16.


Hugo Broos's side were eventually beaten by arch-rivals Nigeria in the semi-finals, but then edged the Democratic Republic of Congo 6-5 on penalties in the third-place play-off after regulation time ended goalless.


Since then, South Africa have gone unbeaten, drawing 1-1 with the Super Eagles and beating Zimbabwe 3-1 in World Cup qualifying in June before drawing and winning the COSAFA Cup later that month.


Excluding the COSAFA Cup and AFCON, Bafana Bafana are unbeaten in their last 12 matches on home soil, dating back to a 4-1 defeat to Angola in the qualifiers for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in September.


Meanwhile, Uganda will embark on a journey to return to Africa's premier cup competition for the first time since 2018-19, when they reached the last 16 before being knocked out by Senegal.


In qualifying for the last edition of the AFCON, the Cranes finished third in their group with seven points, one behind Tanzania, who qualified for the main tournament in Côte d'Ivoire alongside Algeria.


Having missed out on a place in the competition, Paul Put's side played three friendlies between January and March, recording a 2-0 win over Kuwait, a 2-2 draw with Ghana and a 4-0 defeat to Comoros.


The Cranes had a similarly mixed record in their last World Cup qualifier in June, when they beat Botswana 1-0 but lost 2-1 to Algeria a few days later.


Uganda have played South Africa four times since their first meeting in 2004, but have lost all four times, with three of those defeats coming in regulation time and the other on penalties at the 2019 COSAFA Cup.


South Africa possible starting lineup:

Goss; Mudau, Ngezana, Mvala, Modiba; Mokoena, Sithole, Zwane, Kekana; Foster, Rayners


Uganda possible starting lineup:

Watenga; Muleme, Mugabi, Lwaliwa, Semakula; Mutyaba, Ssekiganda, Aucho; Mato, Mukwala, Okello


Prediction:South Africa 1-0 Uganda


South Africa VS Uganda stream and TV listing

International:Holasports

  • Uganda

  • South Africa

  • CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

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