Themba Mshishi Zwane was outstanding in helping South Africa secure their first victory in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by demolishing Namibia.
His impressive performance has put him in the spotlight and reignited Bafana Bafana’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
The scoring was initiated by Percy Tau in the 14th minute, who successfully converted a penalty kick and inspired Mzansi to a resounding 4-0 triumph.
Tau had faced criticism after missing a penalty in the previous game against Mali, but that is now in the past. Namibia’s Riaan Hanamub was responsible for the penalty, as he handled the ball during a challenge against Thapelo Morena.
Initially, the penalty was not awarded immediately, as the referee had to consult the video assistant referee before pointing to the spot.
Zwane then showcased his skills by scoring two goals in the 25th and 40th minutes, while Thapelo Maseko sealed Bafana Bafana’s victory with a goal in the 75th minute.
Zwane showcased his talent at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium by scoring two goals in just 15 minutes, bringing his total to nine goals for the South African national team. His first goal was a thing of beauty and truly exceptional.
Mshishi received a well-executed pass from his teammate Morena, who played a low cross. Zwane then unleashed a powerful shot that left goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua helpless.
The experienced forward completed his brace with another impressive goal, skillfully evading his defenders and scoring from a difficult angle.
Broos had to make important decisions before this match after seeing his team struggle against Mali.
He did make some changes, but he was cautious not to make too many adjustments and kept the core of the starting team from their first game.
Maseko and vice-captain Siyanda Xulu were the two players who were replaced, and Broos brought in Grant Kekana as part of the defense, which consisted of five Sundowns players.
He also included Morena in the starting lineup. This strategy turned out to be successful as Bafana earned their first points and kept a clean sheet.
Namibia’s head coach, Collin Benjamin, appeared disoriented and hopeless as Bafana scored multiple goals.
Peter Shalulile, the Sundowns striker, did not perform as well as he usually does in the PSL, as he was effectively neutralized by South Africa’s defense.
Deon Hotto also had a subpar game, struggling against players like Mothobi Mvala and Kekana, while Bafana secured the second spot in Group E.
Bafana’s final match will be on January 24 against Tunisia, the third-ranked team in Africa.
If Tunisia wants to advance, they must win against South Africa, and a loss for Bafana could be problematic.
On the same day, the Brave Warriors will face Mali, and a defeat would eliminate them from the competition.
