South Africa (SA) went down by 2-0 to Ghana in their first game of the 2021 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualification at Cape Coast Stadium in Ghana last night.

Bradley Grobler came close to handing SA a roaring lead on the 15th minute. He took two more touches in the 16-yard area instead of a first-time shot. By the time Grobler thought of a strike, the angle was acute and him tightly marked, he skyrocketed the ball.

The first goal of the Afcon qualifier in second match of Group C was scored on the 36th minute by Thomas Partey. He unleashed a superb low-drive shot outside the box and the Ghanaians were 1-0 up. Beaten hands down, Rowen Williams, SA goalkeeper, pondered helplessly how to stop the ball as it drilled and licked the back of the net on the far upright.

The Black Stars’ [Ghana] commanding lead came from Mohammed Kudus’ 80th minute magnificent top-corner curler. Running for some odd 20 meters unchallenged, Kodus weaved through SA’s backpeddling defenders leaving them disoriented and lopped Williams with a belter of a goal.

On Sunday Nov. 17 Bafana Bafana [SA] will be hoping for maximum points when they go in a collision course with Sudan at Orlando Stadium scheduled for 15h00 kick off. This game was previously dated Nov. 19 and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) revised it backwards. Thus, in three days time, Bafana Bafana will be back (home) in action smarting over wounds inflected by the Black Stars in Ghana.

Ghana’s win (last night) position them second in Group C with Sudan at the top after trashing São Tomé and Príncipe 4-0 Wednesday night.

Lying third with no point, South Africa have very little to lose but to redeem themselves on Sunday. Playing at home in Johannesburg should be a big boast, especially in a sold-out affair at Orlando Stadium in Soweto. Both Ghana and Sudan won their fixtures in their own backyards. Nevertheless, filling up stadiums is a hard sell for Bafana Bafana nowadays.