A brilliantly taken goal by Thembinkosi Lorch gave Bafana Bafana a 1-0 victory over The Pharaohs to set up a mouthwatering clash with Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

The hosts were favorites to progress into the quarterfinals backed by a capacity crowd of 75,000 packed Cairo International Stadium, it was Mohamed Salah who had the first sniff at goal with just four minutes in with a shot that deflected out for a corner.

South Africa were determined to impress and Percy Tau forced El Shannawy into a couple of saves in the first half.

Bafana’s defensive discipline forced the Egyptian side into making hurried decisions. And as the game wore on, the hosts were getting frustrated with Salah kept quiet and well marshalled by the ever present Hlanti.

With five minutes remaining, having bossed Egypt in the first half, and frustrated them in the second, Thembinkosi Lorch got through alone on a breakaway and slotted an 85th-minute winner – and Bafana Bafana had shocked the hosts and blown the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations wide open.
Egypt were one of the tournament favourites.

Kelvin Trudeau Musako

Football Journalist | TotalEnergies AFCON 2021 Photographer | Media Officer - Kabwe Warriors FC | Graphic Designer | Videographer