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Full time!
Key moments
Guinea was pressing again in the closing stages of the match. Lamine Diaby-Fadiga tried a left-footed shot from outside the box but missed the target. The visiting team was trying to level the score but was struggling to find an equalizer.
Another substitution for Guinea. Seydouba Cissé left the pitch and was replaced by Ousmane Camara for the visiting team. Guinea made an attacking change to turn the match around and snatch a draw against South Africa.
Changes for South Africa. Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng left the pitch, replaced by Thapelo Morena and Bathusi Aubaas for the home side. South Africa was trying to catch its breath to hold onto the lead against Guinea.
Goal for South Africa!
Samukele Kabini extended the lead for the hosts. Yamela Mbuthuma set up the goalscorer, who stepped into the box, struck the ball first-time with his left foot, and found the back of goalkeeper Sylla's net. South Africa widened their lead at the Arena.
Goal for Guinea!
Seydouba Cissé equalized at Arena Orlando Amstel. From a free-kick, Cissé struck the ball toward goal with his right foot, finding the back of the net past goalkeeper Williams. Guinea leveled the score and believed a winning goal away from home was within reach.
Ibrahima Fofana and Ilaix Moriba left the pitch, replaced by Ibrahim Diakité and Lamine Diaby-Fadiga for Guinea. The visiting team made key changes in midfield to regain their energy and level the score.
South Africa blocked the attempt. Abdoul Traoré passed to Serhou Guirassy. The forward stepped into the box and fired a right-footed shot from the center of the area, but the ball deflected off the South African defense. Guinea began to press in search of an equalizer.
Aubrey Maphosa Modiba left the pitch and was replaced by Samukele Kabini for South Africa. The hosts made a substitution in the second half to catch their breath and extend their lead over Guinea. The game had become scrappy early in the second half.
The game got off to a scrappy start in the opening minutes of the second half. Abdoul Traoré committed a foul while challenging Kamogelo Sebelebele for the ball, halting play in South Africa's defensive zone. Guinea was trying to tighten its pressing to mount a comeback in the match.
Second half begins
Play resumed at Arena Orlando Amstel. Lass Kourouma left the pitch and was replaced by Ousmane Diabate for Guinea. In a hard-fought match, South Africa led Guinea 1–0, thanks to a good by Ime Okon, in this opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
End of the first half
The first half at Arena Orlando Amstel came to an end. In a hard-fought match, South Africa led Guinea 1–0, thanks to a good from Ime Okon, in this opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. We returned shortly to cover the second half.
Yellow card for South Africa. Ime Okon was late in a challenge with Serhou Guirassy and was booked by the officials. The scorer of the match's only goal was now walking a disciplinary tightrope and risked being sent off.
Yellow card for Guinea. Serhou Guirassy committed an attacking foul on Kamogelo Sebelebele and was booked by the referee. The forward was now walking a disciplinary tightrope in this international match and risked being sent off.
South Africa tightened up the marking. Thapelo Maseko committed a foul while challenging Lancinet Kourouma for the ball, halting play in the defensive zone. The hosts were trying to control the game but were struggling to extend their lead.
Goal for South Africa!
Ime Okon opened the scoring at Arena Orlando. From a corner kick, Yay Sithole crossed the ball into the box. The goalscorer connected with his left foot from the right side and found the back of goalkeeper Sylla's net. South Africa took the lead in the match.
Another attacking move from South Africa. Relebohile Mofokeng passed to Oswin Appollis. The forward shot with his right foot from outside the box, and the ball deflected off the Guinea defense. South Africa was trying to open the scoring.
South Africa kept up the pressure, looking for the opening goal. Oswin Appollis set up the play and passed to Teboho Mokoena. The midfielder tried a right-footed shot from outside the box but missed the target; the ball went just wide of the right post.
South Africa was pressing hard at Orlando Stadium. Relebohile Mofokeng was late to a challenge with Ilaix Moriba, halting play in Guinea's defensive third. The hosts were trying to control the game but were still struggling to dictate the play.
South Africa looked to open the scoring on home soil. Iqraam Rayners stepped into the box, fired with his left foot from the center of the area, but missed the target. The home team was applying pressure again and had missed a good chance to take the lead.
Close call for Guinea. Ibrahima Fofana set up the play and found Aliou Balde. The forward entered the box from the right and fired a shot with his right foot, but goalkeeper Williams made his first save of the match. Guinea was trying to open the scoring.
1º/00' – Kick-off!
Referee Sadou Ali Brahamou blew the opening whistle at Arena Orlando Amstel. The ball was rolling for the first half between both sides. The match was part of the first round of the group stage of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Confirmed lineups: Rayners leads the line, Maseko starts and Sibisi makes the bench after all
South Africa XI: Williams (c); Modiba, Okon, Makhanya, Sebelebele; Sithole, Mokoena; Maseko, Mofokeng, Appollis; Rayners.
Guinea XI: Sylla; Keïta, Sow, Fofana, Sekou Sylla; M. Kourouma, L. Kourouma, Cissé; Baldé, Traoré, Guirassy.
Pitso Mosimane's first team since his return: Olwethu Makhanya partnered Ime Okon at center-back as expected, Aubrey Modiba got the left-back spot ahead of Samukele Kabini, Iqraam Rayners was preferred to Yanela Mbuthuma up front and Thapelo Maseko joined Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis behind him. Nkosinathi Sibisi, ruled out on Friday, was listed among the substitutes alongside Poggenpoel, Zwane, Mailula, Mbuthuma and Matthews. Guinea, as expected, built around Serhou Guirassy, with Ilaix Moriba left out of the starting eleven.
Guinea's recent matches
Thu, Jun 4: Northern Ireland 1-0 Guinea - International Friendly.
Tue, Mar 31: Guinea 0-1 Benin - International Friendly.
Fri, Mar 27: Togo 2-2 Guinea - International Friendly.
Tue, Nov 18: Guinea 1-1 Niger - International Friendly.
Sat, Nov 15: Guinea 2-0 Liberia - International Friendly
The referee blew the final whistle at Arena Orlando Amstel. In a hard-fought match, South Africa defeated Guinea 2–1 in the opening round of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Thank you for following the match with us in real time.