South Africa overcame Botswana 3-2 to clinch the 2016 COSAFA Castle Cup at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday evening.
As a result Bafana Bafana lifted the regional tournament title for the fourth time, while the Zebras were hoping to clinch their first ever title.
Judas Moseamedi thought he had put South Africa into the lead three minutes into the game, but he was ruled offside.
The striker, who was looking lively for Bafana in the opening stages, had his attempt blocked by Botswana captain Boitumelo Mafoko in the 15th minute.
Botswana then took the lead against the run of play a minute later and it was Onkabetse Makgantai who made it 1-0 to his side.
South Africa kept pushing for the equalizing goal and in the 29th minute, Moseamedi was denied by Zebras keeper Mwampule Masule.
Bafana’s pressure paid off in the 33rd minute when Gift Motupa equalized from the spot-kick after Moseamedi had been fouled in the Zebras box.
Motupa then set-up his Bafana teammate Aubrey Modida on the edge of the box a minute before-half time, but the latter miscued his effort.
Shakes Mashaba’s side took the lead for the first time on the night in the 66th minute when Thabiso Kutumela scored with a tap in.
But the lead only lasted for only a minute as Bafana goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse dropped Kabelo Seakanyeng’s free-kick into the lead to make it 2-2.
South Africa were given a chance to snatch a late winner in the 88th minute from the spot-kick and Motupa stepped up to seal Bafana’s 3-2 win on the night.
South Africa (1) 3 (Motupa 33′, 88′, 66′)
Botswana (1) 2 (Makgantai 16′, Seakanyeng 67′)
South Africa XI: Pieterse, Mobara, Coetzee, Malepe, Moerane, Mekoa, Phiri, Modiba, Masuku, Moseamedi (Kutumela 56′), Motupa.
Botswana XI: Masule, Kebue, Ramoraka, Gaolaolwe, Mafoko, Ditsele, Gadibolae, Galenamotlhale (Seakanyeng 61′), Sesinyi (Mogorosi 61′), Makgantai, Tshireletso.
