South By Victor Kanayo
South Africa on Saturday night won their second ever bronze in the Africa Cup of Nations after defeating a resilient DR Congo 6-5 on penalties, following 120 minute goalless encounter in Abidjan, Cote d’ivoire.
The first and last time the South Africans got bronze was in 2000.
The Grilling Encounter
Both sides rang the changes following exhausting semi-final defeats. The first half proved cagey with clear chances lacking for either team.
DR Congo looked livelier after the break as Simon Banza and Grady Diangana threatened. But wayward finishing cost them dearly.
Bafana Bafana also struggled to create openings until the latter stages. Substitute Mihlali Mayambela almost won it late on but fired over.
With penalties looming, South Africa held their nerve. After 11 perfect spot-kicks, DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba crucially missed to hand Bafana Bafana bronze.
The shootout relief capped South Africa’s AFCON recovery after a poor start.
Soothing Success
With the hard-earned victory, South Africa finished on the podium of an Africa Cup of Nations for the fourth time in their history, after 1996 (champion), 1998 (finalist) and 2000 (third).
Before this, Bafana Bafana have conceded just three goals in seven games at this 2023 AFCON, having conceded fewer goals in a single edition only in their first appearance in 1996 (2 in 6 matches).
South Africa is the first nation to play three consecutive penalty shoot-outs in the history of the Africa Cup of Nations.
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They have won three of their five penalty shoot-outs at the AFCON, including two in the third place game (v Tunisia in 2000 and v DR Congo).
On the other hand, this is the second time that DR Congo have finished fourth in an Africa Cup of Nations, after 1972.
The Leopards finished third in their last two appearances at this stage of the competition, winning on penalty shoot-outs in 1998 and 2015.
