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Orlando Pirates forward Oswin Appollis was among the standouts as South Africa edged closer to World Cup qualification with a 3-0 win over neighbours Lesotho in their qualifier held at Free State Stadium on Friday night.
Bafana Bafana created daylight between themselves and the chasing pack in Group C, where they went seven points clear of second-placed Benin ahead of their crucial clash against Nigeria at the same venue on Tuesday.
It was thanks in part to the Bucs contingent in the match-day squad named by coach Hugo Broos, who included four players wearing the famous black and white in the starting lineup, while a further three waited on the bench.
The star of the show in the fixture proved to be Appollis, who turned in a stellar performance in his first international since signing for the Soweto Giants in the off-season. He carried his club form into the encounter and had a hand in the opener netted by ex-Buccaneer Mohau Nkota in the 15th minute.
The 24-year-old had opportunities to get his own name on the scoresheet in the first half, but had to wait until the break to do so. Lesotho’s resistance was only broken after the hour mark by another former Pirates player in Burnley’s Lyle Foster, who then provided the assist for Appollis as he put the result beyond doubt with a calm finish past Orbit College goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.
Included alongside Appollis in the starting eleven were defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who was instrumental in ensuring a clean sheet with an assured showing at the back. The two players lasted the full 90 minutes alongside Thalente Mbatha, while Sipho Mbule at his dazzling best on his return to the national setup as he displayed his trademark flair in his 73 minutes on the field.
There was a milestone for another Bucs new signing in Kamogelo Sebelebele, who made his official debut for South Africa when he replaced Nkota in the 73rd minute. Goalkeeper Sipho Chaine and midfielder Relebohile Mofokeng were among the unused subs on the bench and could feature when Bafana host Nigeria on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Deon Hotto’s Namibia endured a disappointing result in their bid to secure World Cup qualification for the first time in history. The veteran winger lasted the whole match as the Brave Warriors went down 2-1 to Malawi in their match played in Francistown earlier in the day. The result dealt a blow to their chances as they remain second in a tight Group H with three more games left to play. They also remain at the same venue for their next match, which takes place on Tuesday against third-placed Liberia, who are only two points behind them.
SOURCED FROM THE CLUB’S WEBSITE.