By Olwethu Mabhala
UMzantsi Afrika wenze umsebenzi oncomekayo njengoko ubethe iZambia ngo 3–1 kungquzulwano lwebhola ekhatywayo. Umdlalo uye waphila ngomzuzu wamashumi amane anesine ngethuba u-Appolis ebetha igowuli ngokuzithemba, nto leyo eyanika aBafana Bafana isikhokelo esilifaneleyo ukuya exesheni. IZambia izamile ukuhlanganisana kwakhona, kodwa amandla oMzantsi Afrika ebengaphezulu.
Kuthe ngomzuzu wamashumi amathandathu anesibini (62), uNkota ongene kwisiqingatha sesibini wenze ezibukwayo ngoko nangoko, wafumana intshinga emva nje kokuba engenile, nto leyo eyabaphambanisa abalandeli bekhaya. Kwimizuzu emithandathu emva koko, uSthole uye wayitywina impumelelo ngogwayimbo olunamandla ngomzuzu wama-68, ebonakalisa ubuchule boMzantsi Afrika ekuhlaseleni. Nangona iZambia iphumelele inqaku lokuthuthuzela ngomzuzu wama-89, ibingonelanga ukuthomalalisa umboniso obalaseleyo waseMzantsi Afrika. Umdlalo uphele ngo 3–1, nto leyo ephawula impumelelo yokuzithemba kuBafana Bafana.
