2022 World Cup: South Africa beats Zimbabwe and is just one step away from the 3rd round

South Africans Bongokuhle Hlongwane (left) and Teboho Mokoena (right) in their victory against Togo on November 11, 2021. REUTERS - SIPHIWE SIBEKO

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

3 min

The Bafana Bafana had an excellent operation, Thursday 11 November, by winning against Zimbabwe, their opponent of the day in the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup. Victorious 1-0, South Africa takes an option on the qualification for the last round.

Before the 6th and final day, Ghana are relegated to three points in Group G.

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As in group J, where there will be a

"final" between Benin and the DRC

, the last day of the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup (Africa zone, 2nd round) promises to be intense in group G. Thursday's results gave a mathematical conclusion: Zimbabwe (4th) and Ethiopia (3rd) are out of the race, and the qualification will be played between South Africa and Ghana.

Bafana Bafana will have a definite advantage against the Black Stars

The South Africans of coach Hugo Broos did not have to force their talent or print a big pace to dominate these Warriors.

They were also quick to force the lock.

The trigger came from an impeccable cross from Keagan Dolly to Teboho Mokoena.

The midfielder rose in the air and smashed a victorious header (26th).

The rest of the meeting turned out to be quite closed, South Africa contenting itself with defending its gains and trying in stages to add to the bill.

She almost succeeded in the 89th with a heavy long shot from Bongokuhle Hlongwane.

But goalkeeper Petros Mhari deflected the shot on the crossbar.

Not enough to disturb the Bafana Bafana however.

The latter, with four wins and a draw (six goals scored, one conceded), appear very solid and are masters of their own destiny.

They have 13 points while Ghana have only 10. Their last “away” match against the Black Stars will be on Sunday November 14 in Cape Coast.

South Africa will qualify if they win or draw.

For Ghana to blow first place in extremis, they will have to win at home and erase the negative goal difference.

► To read also: World Cup 2022: calendar and results of qualifying Africa

Senegal narrowly avoid first defeat

Two other matches were also played on Monday. Earlier, in Group H, Congo-Brazzaville and Namibia drew (1-1). A match without any real stake since Senegal is already guaranteed to finish first. Suddenly, the second match between the Teranga Lions and Togo in Lomé was not of much interest either, except to see if Aliou Cissé and his family would glean a fifth consecutive success.

Negative answer: the Sparrowhawks are the first to catch Senegal during this second round.

Everything was played in the additional time of each period.

At the end of the first act, on a cross, the central back Pape Cissé somewhat tangled up the brushes and sent the ball with his head to the bottom of his own nets, to the dismay of Édouard Mendy (45th + 1 ).

But the vice-champions of Africa snatched the draw thanks to Habib Diallo.

The Strasbourg player, who entered for the last quarter of an hour, rushed on a deep ball from Bamba Dieng and took advantage of the exit of the Togolese goalkeeper Wassiou Ouro-Gneni to lob and equalize (90th + 3).

In the Group H standings, Senegal is well ahead with 13 points ahead of Togo (5 points), Namibia (5 points) and Congo-Brazzaville (3 points).

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  • Sports

  • Soccer

  • World Cup 2022

  • South Africa

  • Zimbabwe

  • Senegal

  • Togo

  • Namibia

  • Congo Brazzaville