South Africa beat DRC on penalties to clinch AFCON2023 bronze medal

The Bafana Bafana of South Africa beat DRC on penalties 6:5 to clinch AFCON2023 bronze medal. The game dragged on for 120 minutes with neither team able to find the net. In the resulting penalties, both teams scored all their first five kicks for the penalties to extend to sudden death. South Africa netted their sixth penalty kick while the DRC missed.

DRC made their presence known early in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff match, as Silas had an opportunity at goal within the first eight minutes. However, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams displayed impressive reflexes to deny the striker in a one-on-one situation.

South Africa gradually found their rhythm later in the game, with Evidence Makgopa having a chance in the 19th minute after a through ball from Teboho Mokoena. Unfortunately, Makgopa’s shot missed the target, going over and wide.

As the first half progressed, the match became more open, but both teams went into halftime without scoring any goals.

In the second half, both teams struggled to convert their chances, lacking the clinical finishing they had hoped for. As a result, the game ended with a 0-0 scoreline at full-time.

The match then proceeded to penalties, where Williams once again stole the spotlight by saving Meshack Elia’s sudden death penalty. This crucial save guided the South Africans to a third-place finish.