Bafana Bafana suffered a 3-0 defeat to defending champions Angola in the COSAFA Cup final at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.
The first real chance of the match came in the 24th minute when Ime Okon's header for the hosts rattled the crossbar.
However, it was Angola who opened the scoring just before halftime when Laurindo Aurelio Depu's powerful header from a freekick in the 43rd minute gave the Sable Antelopes a 1-0 lead.
Angola’s attacking intent pays off
Okon nearly found the equaliser for South Africa early in the second half, but his shot narrowly missed the target in the 47th minute. Angola then doubled their lead in the 62nd minute. Depu, netting his second goal of the match after tapping in from close range to make it 2-0.
That was the forward’s eighth goal of the season when he positioned himself well to sweep in after good work from Zini who made a good run from wide.
Boitumelo Radiopane tried to spark a comeback for Bafana Bafana with a fierce shot in the 68th minute, but Angola goalkeeper Dominic was equal to the task.
Angola sealed their victory in the 80th minute when Milson curled in a beautiful free-kick from the edge of the box to make it 3-0.
Goncalves happy to win it for Suffering Angolans
Angola coach Pedro Goncalves was delighted that his charges overcame problems in their country to win the title, dedicating the victory to their supporters back home.
“We are facing a lot of setbacks at home but we are fighting and doing it for the Angola nation. I hope everyone is celebrating and looking away from the other challenges,” he told SuperSport TV.
“It is the feeling we were searching for, we were brave, fighting and we are celebrating. They [South Africa] are strong, powerful, good in crosses and duels but the boys did a wonderful job and made the plan good.”
With this win, Angola have now matched South Africa's record of five COSAFA Cup titles.
