Pitso Mosimane Praises Bafana Bafana After Hard-Fought 2–1 Win Over Guinea in AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
- Bafana Bafana secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Guinea in their 2027 AFCON qualifying Group D match at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday
- The result marked Pitso Mosimane's first game back in charge of the national side, with two Bafana players scoring their first senior international goals
- Despite the positive result, Mosimane identified a key area his squad must address ahead of their next qualifying fixture
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Pitso Mosimane returned to the Bafana Bafana dugout with a winning start, praising his squad's mentality and work rate after South Africa edged Guinea 2-1 in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D encounter at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday.
Guinea, coached by Paulo Duarte, made it a difficult afternoon for the hosts. Seydouba Cisse pulled the visitors level in the 69th minute to threaten Bafana's early advantage, but Samukele Kabini restored the lead eight minutes later to seal the three points and give South Africa a strong opening result in the group.
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**Mosimane Pleased With Bafana's Approach**
Mosimane credited his players for taking the initiative at home, noting that they had done their homework on Guinea's style of play. He felt Bafana identified their opponents' build-up patterns and used that information to win the ball in threatening positions. The coach also highlighted how his side's pressing disrupted Guinea's rhythm throughout the contest, while expressing admiration for the technical quality the Guinean midfield brought to the match.
Despite the encouraging display, Mosimane was candid about what still needs to improve. South Africa created several clear-cut chances over the course of the 90 minutes but failed to convert them at a consistent rate. The coach stressed that finishing must become sharper as the campaign progresses, though he acknowledged that the players showed genuine intent in attack, earning set-pieces and maintaining a clear desire to add to the scoreboard.
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**Okon and Kabini Make Their Mark**
Two of the afternoon's most notable storylines came from the backline and attack. Centre-backs Ime Okon and Olwethu Makhanya were both singled out by Mosimane for their defensive solidity, with the coach particularly pleased to see Makhanya earn a starting berth after the youngster had found regular opportunities hard to come by previously.
Okon and Kabini each netted their first senior international goals during the match, adding personal significance to what was already an important team result.
The victory handed South Africa a useful advantage in Group D over one of their most competitive rivals in the qualifying pool.
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Source: Briefly News
