Omedi, Mato score beauties in Cranes draw with Bafana

Afcon 2025 qualifiers

Group K, Matchday One Results

Thursday, Sept 5: Congo 1-0 South Sudan

Friday, Sept 6: South Africa 2-2 Uganda

Matchday Two

Monday, Sept 9: Uganda vs Congo

Tuesday, Sept 10: South Africa vs South Sudan

StarTimes Uganda Premier League star, Denis Omedi, and Rogers Mato scored two stunning goals before Thalente Mbatha’s late equaliser earned South Africa a point in the 2-2 draw with Uganda on Friday night.

Lyle Foster had earlier given the hosts, South Africa, a 1-0 lead after 14 minutes at Orlando Stadium in South Africa before Omedi and Mato’s quickfire goals between 51 and 53 minutes.

The result leaves South Africa and Uganda in second and third place respectively in Group K of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Congo Brazzaville, who beat South Sudan 1-0 on Thursday, top the group on three points, with the latter bottom with nothing.

Uganda next face Congo at Namboole Stadium in Kampala non Monday, while South Africa travel to Juba to take on South Sudan.

The top two teams after six rounds of matches will qualify for the Afcon finals to be held in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026.

At Orlando Stadium, South Africa went ahead in the 14th minute when Foster slotted home past Cranes goalkeeper Ismail Watenga, who had an inspiring performance, for a 1-0 lead.

The Cranes then survived a foray of attacks, with Watenga standing tall against Foster, Appollis, Mokwana and Zwane among others. 

Uganda coach introduced Vipers SC forward Allan Okello for Travis Mutyaba at half time as he thought for a reaction after a rather disjointed first 45 minutes. 

There was some improvement from the visitors despite South Africa’s continued dominance of the ball.

And soon Uganda got their reward as Sphephelo Sithole was dispossessed and Kitara striker, Omedi, took full advantage, stealing some yards before unleashing a 30-yard strike past South Africa goalkeeper Veli Mothwa for 1-1 on 51 minutes.

Mato immediately made it 2-1 as the Cranes led for the first time in the match when he, too, shot from distance, his drive being helped in by Mothwa’s floppy hands on 53 minutes.

 

But with just over a minute to go, Uganda’s spirits were broken as Orlando Pirates midfielder Mbatha stuffed home the equaliser to earn South Africa a point.

South Africa XI: Mothwa V (GK), Mudau K, Ngezana S, Dortley R, Modiba A, Sithole S, Mokoena T, Mokwana E, Zwane T (C), Appollis O, L. Foster

Subs used: Thalente Mbatha, Relebohile Mofokeng, Iqraam Rayners, Thapelo Morena

Uganda XI: Ismail Watenga, Aziz Kayondo, Elio Capradossi, Bevis Mugabi, Elvis Bwomono, Khalid Aucho (C), Ronald Ssekiganda, Travis Mutyaba (Allan Okello), Steven Mukwala (Joackiam Ojera), Rogers Mato (Joseph Ochaya), Denis Omedi