Rayners, Maswanganyi, and Mokoena Lead the Charge in Dominant 3-0 Victory

In front of a lively and sold-out Cape Town Stadium, Bafana Bafana wrapped up their 2025 Afcon qualifying campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over South Sudan. Goals from Iqraam Rayners, Patrick Maswanganyi, and Teboho Mokoena underscored South Africa’s dominance in their final Group K fixture on Tuesday night.

Already assured of their spot in next year’s Afcon finals in Morocco, Coach Hugo Broos fielded a mix of regulars and fringe players to keep the momentum going. The match also served as a special milestone for goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who earned his 50th cap before making way for debutant Sage Stephens in the 74th minute.

Early Spark

Bafana took control of the game from the outset, and the Cape Town crowd didn’t have to wait long for the opener. In the 7th minute, Rayners latched onto a perfectly placed cutback from Oswin Appollis to slot home from close range.

Rayners, however, missed a couple of chances to double his tally. It was Maswanganyi who stepped up in the 22nd minute, capitalizing on a rebound after South Sudan goalkeeper Majak Mawith failed to handle Mokoena’s initial shot.

Second-Half Flourish

South Africa maintained their attacking intensity in the second half. Mokoena added the third goal from the penalty spot in the 50th minute, calmly converting after Bright Stars’ Ivan Iwan fouled Khuliso Mudau in the box.

Broos utilized the comfortable lead to provide valuable minutes to several players. Relebohile Mofokeng and Nkosinathi Sibisi came on mid-second half, while Devin Titus made his debut in the dying moments, replacing Thapelo Morena.

A Year to Remember

The win capped an impressive year for Bafana Bafana, highlighted by their Afcon bronze medal in Ivory Coast earlier in 2024. With World Cup qualifiers set to resume in March 2025, starting with a clash against Lesotho, Broos’ men will be aiming to carry their current form into the next phase of their campaign.