21 March 2025 – Bafana Bafana once again demonstrated their unyielding fighting spirit when they beat Lesotho 2-0 in a pulsating FIFA World Cup qualifier at a packed Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane, Limpopo, on Friday night.
A masterclass second half performance saw Relebohile Mofokeng open the scoring in the 60th minute following some fine work from Elias Mokwana, who glided past several Lesotho defenders like a nimble-footed ice skater before delivering the final pass to the prodigious Mofokeng.
The fans had barely caught their breath when Jayden Adams increased the lead three minutes later to put the game beyond the visitors’ reach. Lesotho had bravely kept the home side at bay until the three minutes that changed the match.
The final score could have been a lot more worse for the neighbouring country had the South African senior men’s national team converted all the chances they created.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said the team will now shift focus to their next assignment, Tuesday’s second FIFA World Cup qualifier against Benin, in a match that he believes will be just as tough.
“We have to prepare ourselves now for next Tuesday against Benin, and it will be as difficult as it was today. It will be different but as difficult, so if we are well prepared and we are able to produce the same performance we produced today, I think we can win the game there.”
Lesotho coach Leslie Notsi identified the moment his charges lost the match.
“In the 60th minute, that is when we lost composure and we conceded. Within three minutes, we conceded again and I think that is where we lost the game,” he said.
Bafana Bafana will travel to West Africa for their next assignment on Sunday.
