Limbe - Bafana Bafana’s hopes of qualifying for the 2017 African Cup of Nations hang by a thread despite a wonder goal by Hlompho Kekana in a 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Limbe on Saturday.
Kekana’s unbelievable strike from inside his own half on the 50-minute mark put Shakes Mashaba’s team 2-1 up, but it was not enough as a number of missed chances came back to haunt the South Africans.
But Bafana can feel unlucky after a convincing late penalty appeal for a jersey pull on Thulani Serero in the third minute of stoppage time was not awarded by Ethiopian referee Bamlak Tessema Weyesa.
Poor marking from Bafana off a Cameroonian free kick in the 66th minute saw defender Nicolas Nkoulou rise high inside the six-yard box to head home the equaliser, and the visitors were unable to unlock the Indomitable Lions once more.
The result moves Bafana up one spot to third after three matches in Group M, but they are six points behind leaders Cameroon and five behind Mauritania with three matches left. The 13 group winners, as well as the two best runners-up overall will qualify along with hosts Gabon.
Bafana made a sprightly start to proceedings in what was the first international played at a new stadium in Limbe, as the strong frame of Tokelo Rantie posed some problems for the Cameroon defence.
SA Under-20 star Mpho Makola had a free kick that went high over the top and Rantie squared a ball into the box inside of shooting at goal early on.
But the breakthrough came in the 17th minute when a delightful through-ball from former Orlando Pirates ace Andile Jali split open the Cameroonians, who tried to employ the offside trap, and Rantie darted away.
The Bournemouth striker kept his cool and rounded the Cameroon goalkeeper Ndy Assembe and finished smartly with his left foot.
The goal seemed to propel Cameroon into action as Henri Bedimo and Edgard Sali fired at goal, but Bafana goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune kept his team in the game with a number of brilliant saves.
Rantie then had an excellent chance to put Bafana 2-0 ahead when a magical Jali chip over the top put the striker clear on goal, but he hesitated in a one-on-one with Assembe and the goalkeeper smothered the ball.
That was a bad miss, and it hurt Bafana a minute later as Sebastien Siani rifled through a 25-yard pile-driver that finally beat an outstretched Khune on the stroke of halftime.
The South Africans came out in a more positive mindset after the break, with Thabo Matlaba and Makola combining well on the left flank.
Veteran Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Kekana, though, showed his teammates how it’s done when he spotted the Cameroon goalkeeper off his line from five metres inside the Bafana half, and struck the ball sweetly over Assembe into the back of the net.
And credit to Bafana for not sitting on the 2-1 lead with 40 minutes to go. Kekana (twice), Mandla Masango and second-half substitute Serero had opportunities on goal as the South Africans kept on pushing forward, but they were unable to finish.
Bafana looked in total control, but against the run of play, a Cameroon free kick on the left-hand side of the penalty area flummoxed Khune, who stayed on his line instead of coming out to punch the ball away, and Nkoulou powered home a free header for the 2-2 equaliser.
The South Africans battled to create any chances after that as the hosts dominated the last quarter, with Thulani Hlatshwayo clearing off the line in stoppage time.
They should’ve been handed a penalty when Serero was brought down inside the box, but the referee was never going to go against the hosts in the final seconds.
Now Mashaba and his team will have to rely on other results going their way, while they have to win their three remaining games, starting with Tuesday’s return match against Cameroon at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban (7pm kickoff).
Goal-Scorers
Cameroon2 (Sebastien Siani 45’ Nicolas Nkoulou 66’)
South Africa2 (Tokelo Rantie 17’ Hlompho Kekana 50’)
Teams In Limbe
Bafana XI:16 Itumeleng Khune (captain), 6 Anele Ngcongca (Rivaldo Coetzee 45’), 11 Thabo Matlaba, 3 Erick Mathoho, 14 Thulani Hlatshwayo, 7 Mandla Masango, 15 Andile Jali, 13 Hlompho Kekana, 5 Mpho Makola (William Twala 72’), 9 Thamsanqa Gabuza (Thulani Serero 45’), 17 Tokelo Rantie.
Cameroon XI:16 Ndy Assembe, 3 Nicolas Nkoulou, 14 Aurelien Chedjou, 12 Henri Bedimo, 2 Allan Nyom, 17 Stephane Mbia (captain), 18 Sebastien Siani, 8 Mandjeck Georges, 9 Jacques Zoua, 15 Christian Bekamenga, 11 Edgard Sali.
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