Rising Up: The Growth of South African Football
Football enthusiasts in South Africa experienced a thrilling morning, rejoicing over impressive results on the field.
On Tuesday, two leading South African clubs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, secured first-leg victories in their CAF Champions League quarter-final ties.
The victory for Orlando Pirates was hard-earned and tenacious. They encountered constant pressure from the Algerian side MC Alger at the Stade 5 Juillet 1962.
A well-timed pass from Relebohile Mofokeng set the stage for Mohau Nkota, who expertly slotted the ball past Abdelatif Ramdane in the 65th minute.
This goal, achieved through a quick counter-attack, was crucial in a fiercely contested match in Algiers.
The Pirates had to execute a remarkable defensive display against MC Alger, who tested Sipho Chaine repeatedly. Chaine made a significant save against a pivotal shot from Mohamed Bangouma, helping the Pirates retain their lead as they prepare for the second leg at Orlando Stadium.
The Pirates’ robust defensive lineup, featuring Thapelo Xoki, Nkosinathi Sibisi, and newcomer Mbekezi Mbokazi, has contributed to their impressive 11-match unbeaten streak in the tournament. This marks their first appearance in the quarter-finals since 2013 when they lost in the final to Egypt’s Al Ahly.
Attention will turn to coach Jose Riveiro’s tactics for the second leg: will he adjust the formation by substituting a defender for a forward? The effective three-at-the-back setup previously served them well during their 2-1 league victory over Sundowns prior to the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
While the Pirates upheld a strong defensive strategy, Sundowns exerted more dominance in their fixture against ES Esperance in Pretoria. A well-judged long pass from Lucas Ribeiro Costa cut through Esperance’s backline, setting up Jayden Adams to assist Peter Shalulile for an accurate finish.
The match progressed as an intense contest, with both teams creating chances in a tightly contested, goalless first half.
Sundowns are expecting a similar defensive approach from Esperance in the upcoming second leg in Morocco. However, with a goal deficit, Esperance will likely adopt a more aggressive strategy, which may provide Sundowns with the opportunity to exploit their weaknesses. With their talents, Sundowns are anticipated to overcome Maher Kanzari’s team at Stade Olympique Hammadi-Agrebi.
In addition, South Africa’s Under-17 squad, managed by Vela Khumalo, showed exceptional resilience. They came back from a 3-1 deficit against Egypt in Morocco to secure a 4-3 victory, with Emile Witbooi, the son of Surprise Ralani, playing a vital role.
Witbooi assisted Simphiwe Mlondi’s first goal and neatly converted a penalty taken by Neo Bohloko. Bohloko added another penalty, while Witbooi sealed the win with a goal in the 71st minute, earning himself the man-of-the-match honors.
Bafana Bafana are also on the verge of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with 13 points from six matches in Group C. Notably, their remaining games are expected to be held in South Africa as Lesotho and Zimbabwe will play their home matches there.
However, their victory over Lesotho was complicated by the ineligibility of Teboho Mokoena. Reports from Sportswire indicate that the Lesotho FA will not pursue legal action, but FIFA is likely to investigate, raising the possibility of point deductions.
This incident has put team manager Vincent Tseka under scrutiny, whose position may need to be reassessed if point penalties occur.
Despite this setback, the current landscape of South African football is one of positivity.
The pressing inquiry is: what could threaten this upward trajectory? Ideally, nothing. It is crucial to continue investing in the squads of Pirates and Sundowns, with aspirations that one of them could capture the CAF Champions League title. A showdown between these two would be a remarkable spectacle.
Importantly, the success of these clubs directly contributes to the national team, as many of their players represent Bafana Bafana.