COSAFA Cup: Sumbane's strike floors Bafana Bafana

Antonio Sumbane (right) scored the match winner for Mozambique on Wednesday against South Africa. Photo: COSAFA Media

South Africa’s Bafana Bafana started the 2025 COSAFA Cup with a 0-1 loss to Mozambique’s Mambas in a game highlighted by major Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decisions on Wednesday.

Forward Antonio Sumbane’s second-half goal handed the Mambas the maximum points in the Group A opener at Toyota Stadium in Mangaung, Bloemfontein.  

This was a game featuring teams that believed in pace and width.  Sumbane found a safe passage on the left wing, stretching Bafana Bafana's defence. The hosts, too, thrived on both flanks through Sanele Barns and Puso Dithejane.

Mozambique had the first chance to score when South Africa goalkeeper Thakasani Mbanjwa spilled a ball whipped from the left by Sumbane to Jose Baptista, who fired straight at the hosts' custodian in the 14th minute.

The hosts responded with a counterattack, which ended with a corner kick. However, defender Aden McCarthy missed a golden opportunity, diving at the far post seconds too late when all he needed was to deflect the ball into the net.

Eventually, Dithejane twice came close to scoring, firing sharply over the bar from close range, but both his efforts looked hurried. Minutes later, Mozambique thought they had finally broken the deadlock when Sumbane deflected his shot off Dithejane into the net following a cut-back from the right. However, VAR ruled otherwise due to an offside in the 56th minute.

However, there was no denying Sumbane in the 73rd minute when he reacted quickest to sweep the ball into the net from the floor after a delivery from the right into the box caused mayhem in Bafana Bafana’s penalty box.

Khumalo’s side fought back strongly and were denied by yet another VAR decision after Mozambique’s substitute Oscar Chelene was adjudged to have handled a shot from Vuyo Letlapa in the box in the 78th minute. VAR's review ruled that the Mozambican’s arm was in a natural position.

Still, Bafana Bafana pushed for a late equalizer with substitute Brenden Duba getting past Mozambique’s defence following a well-timed run in the added time. However, Mozambique's goalkeeper Acacio Muendane foresaw the danger, threw himself big onto the floor and blocked the goal-bound shot from the Kaizer Chiefs star. That proved to be the last highlight of the game.

Group A action continues later on Wednesday with six-time champions Zimbabwe facing Mauritius at 18h00 CAT (16h00 GMT) at the same venue. Day two of the competition on Thursday sees Malawi meeting Lesotho in Group B at 15h00 CAT / 13h00 GMT). This will be followed by Angola’s clash against Namibia at 18h00 CAT / 16h00 GMT.

The Brave Warriors go into the match hoping to atone for the 5-0 loss they suffered to the Palancas Negras in last year’s final. COSAFA media says the first game in the three-team Group D will see record seven-time winners Zambia entertaining Comoros (18h00 CAT / 16h00 GMT) on Friday.