By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (August 18^th 2025)

Group A Matchday 5

Three nations, Algeria, South Africa and Uganda entered Matchday 5 knowing what they had to do – despite each having their fates in their own hands, the connotations in Group C were intriguing. All three knew that victory would ensure their progress, but both matches ended in draws – Majid Boughera’s Desert Foxes scraped through in second place with a 0-0 draw.

South Africa led 3-1 going into added time at the end of the match, but after what seemed like an eternity the Cranes drew 3-3, courtesy of two penalties. The President of the South Africa Football Association, Danny Jordaan was distinctly unimpressed, claiming that the Confédération Africain de Football (CAF) had deceived them. SAFA, he insisted, was not interested in the CHAN, just the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) but was told they had to take part. Jordaan was furious with the refereeing, but Uganda went through – the point they took was enough to put them through at the top of the group and send an outraged South Africa home.

Poor Refereeing

Jordaan’s complaints about the standard of the officiating were not isolated. Niger could and perhaps should have suffered at least two sendings off rather than one, but they should have had a penalty as well.

With a lot at stake, even though a draw would be enough for Algeria, shenanigans soon surfaced. The referee warned Nigerien defender Mohamed Baye for holding within the first five minutes – a sign of things to come?

Both Soufiane Bayazid and Mehdi Merghem went close in the early stages but were denied by Niger’s goalkeeper, Mahamadou Tanja. Ibrahim Djingaray was sent off in the 77^th minute – his second yellow card – although his foul on Billel Boukarchaoui could have resulted in a red card. He had previously had a couple of unsuccessful shots from distance.

Over 20 minutes before Djingaray was dismissed from the pitch, a teammate had inflicted an elbow on an opponent’s chest, but nothing was given.

Niger should have had a penalty in the final moments of the match as Algeria’s captain Ayoub Ghezala manhandled substitute Chamsoudine Loukoumane and seemed to handle it too – nothing was given despite the images. However, Adamou Djibo Zataou picked up a yellow card slightly earlier – replays showed that he had elbowed Boukarchaoui and was therefore fortunate to escape a red card.

Algeria was the better side, but Niger showed pride and signs of being able to develop further. Majid Boughera’s side will face the winner of Group D in the quarter-finals – the only one that won’t involve a co-host.

The Woes of Danny Jordaan

SAFA President, Danny Jordaan, is mired in controversy, currently facing trial back in South Africa, but he clings to his position rather than concentrating on his legal woes. He was enraged anew after his Bafana Bafana, led by Molefi Ntseke, a coach SAFA had once unsuccessfully tried and failed to get rid of.

South African football is enduring a rough period despite the leadership of AFCON winner Hugo Broos with the rather odd situation of having fielded an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena against Lesotho on March 21^st in Polokwane in a World Cup qualifying match. South Africa won that match 2-0, but the complaint against South Africa was not made by Lesotho, who seem not to care, but by Nigeria. So far, despite the obvious breach, FIFA is dragging its heels on whether to investigate.

Drama in Kampala

Uganda’s Cranes went into Matchday 5 leading Group C, but knowing that defeat would eliminate them. South Africa knew what they had to do too and so did Algeria – the Desert Foxes had to match or better South Africa’s result to be sure of going through, which happened and better Uganda’s to top the group.

Algeria’s draw against Niger meant that they would qualify with seven points, but they would be second regardless of the result in Uganda and that was where the drama unfolded. The Cranes took the lead through Jude Ssemugabi after 31 minutes, capping off a counter attack – Patrick Kakande provided the assist to him.

The Bafana Bafana equalised after 52 minutes after a VAR check upheld the strike which had been made from close-range, and took the lead six minutes later – Ramahlwe Mphahlele scored the first and Thabiso Kutamela the second from a difficult angle. The Bafana Bafana held on to their lead until they seemed to make it safe by scoring again. Inside the last ten minutes of normal time Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo unleashed a powerful shot from outside the area for South Africa’s third after 83 minutes – he had also provided the assist for Kutamela in an excellent Man of the Match performance. His performance was a definite positive from what ended up as a very disappointing night for the South Africans.

With two minutes of normal time remaining Allan Okello pulled it back to 2-3 from the penalty spot, setting up a thrilling last few minutes after Ivan Ahimbisibwe had been fouled in the box. It set up a frantic as the Cranes chased the equaliser that would send them into the quarter-finals. Eyebrows were raised as the officials announced 8 minutes of added time.

The Cranes equalised six minutes into stoppage time again from the penalty spot. Rogers Torach’s spot kick sent Uganda into the knock out phase after Menzi Masuku was penalised for handball. Uganda became the third and last of the co-hosts to qualify top of their group. Guinea and Niger are eliminated along with the Bafana Bafana They will play the second placed team from Group D, which concludes tomorrow.