South Africa

Match report

South Africa beat Guinea 2-1 in their African Cup of Nations qualifier at home on Thursday evening. Ime Okon opened the scoring before Seydouba Cisse equalised for the visitors, but Samukele Kabini turned the match with a late strike. The result puts the hosts in a stronger position in Group Stage 1.

Okon found the net in the 30th minute, giving South Africa an advantage they held until half-time. Guinea pressed after the break and Cisse pulled one back in the 69th minute. The visitors had the momentum, but South Africa responded. Kabini's goal in the 77th minute was the moment that decided it, and by then the game was effectively over.

South Africa dominated possession at 55 per cent and took 12 shots to Guinea's seven, though only five of theirs hit the target. The hosts registered five shots on target against Guinea's two, and the difference in accuracy told the story. Guinea saved three times to South Africa's one, suggesting the visitors were under more pressure than the statistics show.

South Africa have now moved past their recent struggles, though the run of results leading into this match was not encouraging. They lost to Canada, beat South Korea, drew with Czech Republic and Mexico, and shared points with Jamaica. Guinea's form has been mixed as well, with losses to Northern Ireland and Benin balanced by draws against Togo and Niger. This win gives the hosts something to build on.

Prepared from match data

Key numbers

Possession, % 55.00 – 45

Shots on target 5 – 2

Shots off target 7 – 5

Attacks 70 – 67

⚽ 30' Ime Okon — Goal 🟨 40' Serhou Guirassy — Yellow card 🟨 44' Ime Okon — Yellow card ⇄ 45' Lass Kourouma — Substitution ⇄ 57' Aubrey Modiba — Substitution ⇄ 63' ibrahima fofana breze — Substitution ⇄ 63' Ilaix Moriba — Substitution 🟨 67' Thapelo Maseko — Yellow card ⇄ 68' Iqraam Rayners — Substitution ⚽ 69' Seydouba Cisse — Goal ⇄ 75' Abdoul Karim Traoré — Substitution ⚽ 77' Samukele Kabini — Goal ⇄ 82' Oswin Appollis — Substitution ⇄ 82' Relebohile Mofokeng — Substitution ⇄ 82' Thapelo Maseko — Substitution ⇄ 85' Seydouba Cisse — Substitution

Match events

30' 1:0 South Africa Goal Ime Okon assist: Sphephelo Sithole
40' 1:0 Guinea Yellow card Serhou Guirassy
44' 1:0 South Africa Yellow card Ime Okon
45' 1:0 Guinea Substitution Lass Kourouma off: Ousmane Diabate
57' 1:0 South Africa Substitution Aubrey Modiba off: Samukele Kabini
63' 1:0 Guinea Substitution ibrahima fofana breze off: Ibrahim Diakite
63' 1:0 Guinea Substitution Ilaix Moriba off: Lamine Diaby Fadiga
67' 1:0 South Africa Yellow card Thapelo Maseko
68' 1:0 South Africa Substitution Iqraam Rayners off: Yanela Mbuthuma
69' 1:1 Guinea Goal Seydouba Cisse
75' 1:1 Guinea Substitution Abdoul Karim Traoré off: Aguibou Camara
77' 2:1 South Africa Goal Samukele Kabini assist: Yanela Mbuthuma
82' 2:1 South Africa Substitution Oswin Appollis off: Thapelo Morena
82' 2:1 South Africa Substitution Relebohile Mofokeng off: Bathusi Aubaas
82' 2:1 South Africa Substitution Thapelo Maseko off: Luther Singh
85' 2:1 Guinea Substitution Seydouba Cisse off: Ousmane Camara

Statistics

55.00 Possession, % 45

5 Shots on target 2

7 Shots off target 5

70 Attacks 67

5 Corners 4

17 Fouls 16

17 Free kicks 17

1 Offsides 1

2 Yellow cards 1

0 Red cards 0

6 Goal kicks 11

18 Throw-ins 17

All statistics

10 Blocked shots 4

55 Failed passes 50

1 Goalkeeper saves 3

0.23 Shot accuracy 0.18

7 Shots from outside the box 6

14 Shots inside the box 5

415 Total passes 341

Line-ups

Starting XI
#	Player	number
1	Ronwen Williams	1
6	Aubrey Maphosa Modiba	6
21	Ime Okon	21
24	Olvetu Makhanja	24
25	Kamogelo Sebelebele	25
4	Teboho Mokoena	4
7	Oswin Reagan Appollis	7
10	R. Mofokeng	10
12	Thapelo Maseko	12
13	Sphephelo S'Miso Sithole	13
15	Iqraam Rayners	15

Substitutes
#	Player	number
16	Sipho Chaine	16
22	Ricardo Goss	22
2	Tholo Thabang Matuludi	2
3	Hulumani Ndamani	3
5	Lebonye Sima	5
18	S. Kabini	18
28	Thapelo James Morena	28
11	Themba Zwane	11
30	Bathusi Jurry Aubaas	30
9	J. Mbutuma	9
17	Luther Wesley Singh	17
27	Cassius Mailula	27

Show full squad

Guinea

Starting XI
#	Player	number
1	S. Sylla	1
3	Aboubacar Kobele Keita	3
4	Saïdou Sow	4
6	Ibrahima Fofana	6
21	Sekou Sylla	21
7	Moriba Kourouma Kourouma	7
12	L. Kuruma	12
15	Seydouba Cissé	15
8	A. K. Traoré	8
9	Serhou Yadaly Guirassy	9
10	Aliou Badara Balde	10

Substitutes
#	Player	number
22	M. Camara	22
2	Ibrahim Diakité	2
5	Mohamed Soumah	5
13	M. Keita	13
17	Ibrahim Sory Bangoura	17
18	Aguibou Camara	18
19	O. Diabaté	19
20	Mory Konate	20
24	Mohamed Lamine Diaby-Fadiga	24
14	Morlaye Sylla	14
25	Ousmane Camara	25