Tuesday | June 11, 2024

Thapelo Morena’s was all the different between South and Zimbabwe in the FIFA (Federation of International Football Association) World Cup Group C qualification march in Free State.

He ignited the Bafana Bafana (SA) attack that claimed Zimbabwe scalp by 3-1 at Free State Stadium in Mangaung on Tuesday night.

SA struck first in the 1st minute of the game through Iqraam Rayners who took advantage of a defensive error from the Zimbabwean defender. While the Bafana Bafana were still in the celebratory mode, Tawanda Chirewa levelled the scores 1-1 in the 2nd minute of the Southern Africa neighbours.

Coach Hugo Broos’ mastery substitution, Morena, restored Bafana Bafana’s lead on the 55th minute of the second half. His brace came in the 79th minute to put the game beyond the Warriors’ reach; sending the packed to the rafters stadium into utter delirium.

The final score was 3-1.

In the other Group C fixture playing at the same time, Lesotho was beaten 1-0 by Rwanda in their home game played in Durban, South Africa. They dropped to 4th on the table with five (5) points.

SA are now 2nd behind Rwanda in this group and Benin lies 3rd. These three countries have accumulated the same number (7) of points and are separated merely by goal difference.

At the lower end of the group are Nigeria positioned 5th with three (3) points and Zimbabwe on 6th with two (2) points gathered.

There are four matches played so far and six outstanding for all the groups in the African continent vying for a place in the FIFA World Cup to be held in North America in 2026.