Bafana Bafana vs Angola: A rich history in AFCON

BAFANA BAFANA against Angola in the group stages of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), is there a more familiar fixture?

South Africa’s senior national team begins their campaign at the 35th edition of the biennial, continental showpiece against a foe they’ve met many times before. Monday's clash between the COSAFA nations will be the fifth such since South Africa’s return to international football in 1992.

Back in 1996 when Bafana Bafana reigned supreme on the continent, one of the countries we beat en route to that glory was Angola. I remember that match vividly.

It was a few days after we had smashed Cameroon 3-0 in the tournament and many of us descended upon the old FNB Stadium anticipating a similar outcome. I was a cadet journalist at The Star and the excitement in the newsroom was palpable, the late Phil Nyamane leading our coverage. I got a ticket for the match and sat in the extra strong section – the north-eastern stand to be precise.

Walking into the stadium, I joined in the festivities and got a mini South Africa flag painted on my face. Of course, it was not the full house that roared Bafana to that win over Cameroon, a measly 30 000 of us gathering at the Nasrec arena. The rain that fell on the Highveld that day no doubt contributed to  the poor turnout.

I was glad I went though because I witnessed a historic match live. The first ever meeting between the two countries and Bafana securing their passage to the knockout stages courtesy of a narrow 1-0 victory though a Mark Williams goal

 The match was tighter than anticipated and it was touch and go until Mark Williams broke the deadlock just before the hour mark.

I remember going through the heart of Hillbrow on my way back home to my flat in Yeoville and some white lady approached me saying ‘I know where you’ve been’. Puzzled, I asked her where.

“You were at the stadium”. I was not wearing any soccer regalia and I was a tad surprised. But then she pointed at her cheek to explain how she knew, and I remembered that I’d had a flag painted on my face and even after the rain it was still evidence enough to tell those who saw me where I’d been.

It was a beautiful day, my second AFCON match live at the stadium.

I was not in Burkina Faso when Jomo Sono’s Bafana drew goalless with Angola two years later, but I watched on the television and I still remember how disappointing that result was. We were champions and to begin the defence of our title with such a poor result was disheartening. It looked like it was all doom and gloom when we drew the second match against Ivory Coast. But then Benni McCarthy smashed Namibia for a four to set Bafana up for a march all the way to the final where they came unstuck against Egypt. That goalless draw with Angola was long forgotten by then.

10 years later when we met them again at the AFCON, I was there in person. Out in rural Tamale that we made home for about two weeks, we had our hearts in our throats as it appeared like Manucho’s strike would inflict defeat on our beloved Bafana on Matchday 1.

But Elrio van Heerden came to our rescue as he smashed in a splendid goal three minutes from time to save World Cup-winning coach Carlos Alberto Parreira’s blushes. It did not do much though as Bafana still got knocked out in the first round, losing 3-1 to Tunisia in the second match and then drawing 1-1 with Senegal who joined them on the early departure out of Ghana.

The fourth meeting against Angola was on home soil in 2013. I watched that one on television and I still remember Gordon Igesund’s delight at Siyabonga Sangweni’s opening goal, a sweetly-struck half volley from close range. Lehlohonolo Majoro scored the second through the Angolan goalkeeper’s leg and he should have actually helped himself to a brace but watched disappointedly as his lob over the goalkeeper also went over the goal.

Sunday’s clash against Angola presents the players a chance to add yet another chapter to this rich COSAFA story. How I wish I was to watch this one out in Marrakech. But it is going to have to be on the telly.