Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams
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Thanks to the astute guidance of coach Hugo Broos, Bafana Bafana has undergone a remarkable transformation and once again packed out the stadium at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier match against Lesotho on Friday.
Afterwards, Broos said the Peter Mokaba Stadium crowd had provided his team with a lift in a difficult contest, which they eventually won 2-0. Broos has bravely blooded a few young stars who have stepped up to the plate and delivered outstanding performances on the international front, none more so than Relebohile Mofokeng, the 'Player-of-the-Match', who broke the stalemate early in the second half.
Player ratings for Bafana Bafana’s run-on XI:
He was called on to make one save in the match after Lesotho managed one shot on target. The match would have been an ideal warm-up for Tuesday's clash against Benin in Ivory Coast.
He produced a few overlapping runs from the right-back berth, but it did not prove penetrative, especially in the first half, when Bafana Bafana was up against a low block. He was effective at his primary task of thwarting opposition attacks.
He presented a solid front in central defence with a performance that makes him a first-choice in the side. He sets off on the occasional foray into the midfield without compromising his defence duties.
He produced a workmanlike performance and made the most of a rare run-on slot. Overall, he was one of Bafana Bafana's best players on the night. He was solid in defence and stalked into the striking zone when the opportunity beckoned. His header from a corner kick was the closest Bafana Bafana came to scoring in the first half, but his attempt was cleared off the line.
Still very much a Bafana Bafana rookie but he is growing in confidence. He loves going on overlaps and this skill adds to Bafana Bafana's attacking arsenal. For now, he is the No 1 for the left-back position. He will become one of the anchor players in future national team squads.
He remains a class act and has an eye for defence-splitting passes which can transform defence into attack. He orchestrates the team's attacks and is the main supplier of possession to the front-runners. His long-range scoring weapon from a set-piece was again in evidence but his effort missed the target by a hair's breadth.
Adams showed he is ready to wear the mantle of midfield general. He works well with Mokoena and based on Friday night's performance he'll be one of the first names on the team sheet when Broos next selects a team. Thanks to his combination with Mokoena he'll venture into the striking zone and on Friday he did so to score the team's insurance goal.
He was a threat from the kick-off in his debut for Bafana Bafana. He proved to be a nightmare for Lesotho and was easily worth two more goals on top of his early second-half strike. He is enjoying the confidence of the players around him and this is highlighted by the passes he runs onto as he shakes off his markers. He is unbelievably calm in front of the opposition's goals.
The experienced Tau enjoys the confidence of Broos but he did not impress. He works well and always looks to link with teammates but the team needs a touch of his magic in front of the opposition goals. Tau will target a better performance against Benin on Tuesday.
He produces a telling run down the right flank before laying on the goalmouth cross for Mofokeng's opening goal. He is a vital player in Broos' game plan and is capable of pulling opposition defences out of shape.
Foster was denied by the woodwork at the start of the second half when Bafana Bafana showed a greater sense of urgency. He will be a marked man but will show his class from time to time, to help Bafana Bafana on the road to victory.
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