15 November 2017 – South Africa missed a second half penalty but despite having equalised, were punished by a late, late goal. The match was preceded by a 10-minute power outage at Stade Leopold Cedar Senghor in Dakar, Senegal but once the Ethiopian match official got things going, it was business as usual.

The home side got their first corner kick on the very first minute but it yielded nothing. The Senegalese applied early pressure as the visitors operated from the back foot.

Morgan Gould could done better after a Percy Tau header but he glided his tame effort wide midway through.

That effort somehow galvanised the visitors who started to play their passing game. Tau looked lively but against the imposing West Africans he was constantly pushed off the ball.

Sibusiso Vilakazi could’ve done better on the 35th min mark but shot straight at keeper in probably the most glaring chance of the opening stanza.
Sifiso Hlanti then saw his free kick go wide seven minutes later as the visitors started to impose themselves.

The second half started the way the first ended as both sides created equal opportunities. Senegal got the opening goal in bizarre circumstances after goalkeeper and captain Itumeleng Khune came off his line and Opa Nguette lobbed into an empty net.

Urged by the home support, Senegal continued to push forward as the game opened up. Bafana Bafana then got a penalty after Themba Zwane was brought down – he dusted himself off to take the kick, but he shot wide, summing up up the night for the visitors.

Moments later, Dean Furman got a yellow card for an infringement.

Bafana Bafana did find an equaliser though – from a counter attack, Percy Tau scored with a brilliant shot to make it 1-1 after a perfect pass from Keagan Dolly. The hosts almost restored their lead minutes later but missed with a header as the match swung from one end to the other.

Zwane was then taken off and Andile Jali took his place in the 70th minute.

The home side hit the crossbar minutes later with Khune well-beaten and Bafana Bafana escaped.

Tau got a break again but his powerful shot just went into the arms of the Senegal goalkeeper.

Just when it seemed the match would end on a stalemate, Kara Mbodji, who was unmarked, struck with a  header from a corner kick to give Senegal a 2-1 lead.

The result meant Bafana Bafana ended the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers with a loss, and bottom of Group D with just four points.

Senegal top the group with 14 points, followed by Burkina Faso on 9 while Cape Verde have amassed six.-SAFA.NET WEBSITE