South Africa, Kamogelo Sebelebele on the ball with Manuel Cumbane during the Hollywood COSAFA Cup game at the Toyota stadium in Bloemfontein. PHOTO: Supplied

Tladi Moloi

BLOEMFONTEIN. - South Africa was caught napping as they suffered a disappointing 1-0 to Mozambique in the opening game of the Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup at the Toyota Stadium on Wednesday.

Thanks to the second half goal by Antonio Sumbane who gave the visitors a bright start. Despite enjoying more time on the ball South Africa failed to find the final touch to put the ball in the back of the net.

Arguably, they should have scored at least three goals in the first stanza had they been clinical enough.

Bafana Bafana was warned early in the second half when an own goal by Puso Dithejane was canceled by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

A VAR was again called to action 10 minutes before the final whistle after South Africa was awarded a penalty but it was later cancelled.

The home team pushed numbers in an attempt to at least save a point on their home turf but they failed to crack a rock-solid Mozamque defence.

The frustrated Vela Khumalo, South Africa mentor pointed out that losing a first game was not the start they wished for.

“It is not the best way to start the tournament. Performance-wise, I thought we played well. We played the way we wanted to. One will then say what needs to be improved from going back to the training session and say how we convert our chances.

“I think in the first stanza we had too many entries into the box and the final third but we could not score. We were rushing things went we got into the box. Second half we spoke to that and make the team aware that and we even made the team aware that the only time they will score is only when they get us on transition which they did exactly that,” he said.

He said his boy rotated the ball very well and he believed with that performance they could go all the way in the tournament.

“You know when you are a position-based team, you get to get carried away with the moment. I think we need to concentrate more, tactically be disciplined, and convert the chances. We created enough chances to win the game but we couldn’t,” Khumalo said. 

When reflecting on a VAR, the coach said “VAR is a good thing because that is where the world is going. But I think the officials are taking too long to make judgments and that kills the momentum of the game,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mauritius shared the spoil in a goalless encounter against Zimbabwe in the second game of the day.

South Africa is set to face Zimbabwe in their second Group A match of the 2025 Hollywoodbets COSAFA Cup on Saturday, June 7.