October 11, (THEWILL) – South Africa delivered a commanding performance in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match, defeating Congo 5-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The victory positions them favourably in Group K, sharing seven points with Uganda at the summit of the standings, while establishing a four-point advantage over Congo.
The hosts demonstrated their attacking intent early in the encounter, with Teboho Mokoena opening the scoring through a well-executed header in the 13th minute. Mokoena doubled his tally with an impressive strike from the edge of the penalty area, before Bathusi Aubaas registered his maiden international goal, extending the lead to three before half-time.
The second half maintained the same intensity, as Lyle Foster capitalised on Elias Mokwana’s creative play to score South Africa’s fourth goal. The scoring concluded when substitute Iqraam Rayners took advantage of a goalkeeping error to complete the rout. The match experienced brief interruptions due to pitch invasions following the initial goals, prompting enhanced security measures.
There was a concerning moment in the game when Foster required medical attention following a collision with the opposition goalkeeper, leading to his substitution. The injury’s severity remains uncertain ahead of the return fixture, scheduled for Tuesday at the Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium in Brazzaville.
The result leaves South Africa requiring just one more victory to confirm their participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Their dominant display, featuring five different goal contributors, sends a strong message to their qualifying group rivals and positions them as serious contenders for the continental competition.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
