2023 Africa Cup of Nations: South Africa Books Ticket to the Ivory Coast After Beating Liberia

• South Africa held their nerve to see off Liberia in West Africa to win 2-1 on Tuesday
• The win was enough to ensure their participation at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast
• This will be Bafana Bafana's first appearance in the continental showpiece since the 2019 edition that was hosted by Egypt

Glory, glory hallelujah! Bafana Bafana is heading to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast next January!

They defeated Liberia 2-1 on Tuesday in Monrovia on Tuesday evening.

The match proved to be a tense one from the onset, with the previous encounter having ended 2-2 at Orlando Stadium in Soweto last Friday. Whoever won this encounter would escape Group K alongside Morocco.

Zakhele Lepasa put the hosts into the lead in the 19th minute after slotting past the hosts' goalkeeper Tony Songo following a superb lobbed through-ball from Thapelo Morena.

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The home team were back in business after William Jebor smashed the ball from a distance in the 35th minute, with the ball proving too hot to handle for Bafana captain Ronwen Williams in goal. However, Williams will be disappointed with his effort as he should have stopped the shot either way.

Mihlali Mayambela then pounced on a loose ball following a cross that Songo failed to pounce, putting the away team back into the lead in the 53rd minute. They would then hold on for dear life, with Williams pulling off a clutch point-blank save in the second minute of injury to ensure qualification.

Bafana team manager sent off

During the match, the name Vincent Tseka became a household one across footballing South Africa.

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Bafana Bafana's team manager was seen and heard swearing at one of the match officials in the first half of the critical 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Group K encounter at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Stadium in Monrovia.

It appeared that he was not happy with an offside call by one of the linesmen, though the visitors had blown the chance anyway. At that point, Zakhele Lepasa had put Bafana in the lead in the 19th minute, before William Jebor equalised in the 35th minute.