South Africa edge Ghana 1–0 as AFCON preparations conclude

South Africa finished their warm-up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a tight 1–0 friendly victory over Ghana at Dobsonville Stadium on Tuesday.

The match, played in front of a lively home crowd, served as Bafana Bafana’s final tune-up before heading to Morocco for the continental finals.  

Both teams fielded largely local squads, with several Europe-based stars unavailable.

South Africa controlled large spells of possession and looked the sharper outfit, while Ghana, featuring a second-string lineup often referred to as the Black Galaxies, defended resolutely and used the game as an opportunity to test players ahead of upcoming challenges.  

The day’s decisive moment came shortly after the hour mark when South African midfielder Sipho Mbule unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that beat the keeper and nestled in the top corner. It was a fine finish and ultimately proved enough to separate the sides in a closely contested friendly.  

South Africa created multiple opportunities through wide play and midfield movement but were unable to convert further chances. Ghana’s defence, though second-string, stood firm for long periods and even forced a few nervous moments late on.  

For South Africa, the win offers a morale boost and some valuable match fitness ahead of their opening AFCON game against Angola.

The victory also highlighted areas that will need refinement, particularly in the final third, as coach Hugo Broos looks to strike the right balance between control and cutting edge.  

Ghana’s outing, while ending in defeat, was useful in giving game time to players outside the typical national setup. They will now turn attention toward their own domestic competitions and CHAN qualifiers.  

Friendly fixtures like this are rarely about the scoreline alone, they are opportunities to build cohesion, sharpen tactical understanding, and identify what needs addressing before competitive action begins.

For Bafana, concluding their AFCON build-up with a win provides a positive note to carry into the tournament itself.