South Africa clinched third place at the Africa Cup of Nations by defeating DR Congo 6-5 in a penalty shootout, marking their best finish in 24 years at the tournament.
Ronwen Williams, the captain of Bafana Bafana, played a pivotal role yet again, making two crucial saves during the penalty kicks. The first save denied DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba an opportunity to secure victory, followed by another save from Meshack Elia’s penalty.
The match ended in a goalless draw after 90 minutes, leading directly to a penalty shootout. South Africa, having lost their semi-final on penalties, made history by being the first team to engage in three consecutive Afcon shootouts, largely due to Williams’ exceptional performance, which included saving four penalties in the quarter-final against Cape Verde.
At Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium, Williams continued to shine, particularly after midfielder Teboho Mokoena hit the post with South Africa’s first penalty. Following the captain’s heroics, Belgian coach Hugo Broos, aged 71, celebrated the team’s third-place finish, adding a ‘bronze’ medal to the ‘gold’ he secured with Cameroon in 2017.
South Africa’s previous podium finish was in 2000 when they defeated Tunisia on penalties, while DR Congo aimed to match their best performance since 1998. The Leopards may rue missed opportunities, notably by Mbemba and Fiston Mayele, despite creating several scoring chances.
South Africa’s victory, which saw them winning all three of their Nations Cup encounters with DR Congo, reflects a remarkable campaign characterized by surprises and impressive performances. The team, primarily composed of players from Mamelodi Sundowns, displayed defensive solidity throughout the tournament, conceding only one goal in their last six games.
While DR Congo posed threats, particularly with numerous attacks behind South Africa’s defense, they struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Despite both teams having moments of offensive pressure, neither could break the deadlock during regular play.
In the end, Williams’ exceptional goalkeeping proved decisive, denying DR Congo the chance to secure victory. The Congolese team, however, can reflect on a commendable campaign under coach Sebastian Desabre, marked by defensive resilience and attacking prowess.
The match witnessed the presence of past legends, including members of South Africa’s 1996 winning team and the President of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Patrice Motsepe, who celebrated Bafana Bafana’s achievement.
