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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana are one step closer to the 2018 Soccer World Cup in Russia after a hard fought victory over Senegal.
Two first-half goals from Thulani Hlatshwayo and Thulani Serero was enough to hold off a strong Senegal side.
However, the Lions of Teranga pulled one back through Cheikh Ndoye following a scramble in the 18 yard area to make the final moments of the match a nerve-wracking ordeal for Shakes Mashaba and his charges.
Bafana Bafana's next fixture is on Tuesday against Mozambique in an international friendly.
Sport24's Tashreeq Vardien rates each Bafana Bafana player according to their performance in Saturday's match.
BAFANA BAFANA PLAYER RATINGS
Itumeleng Khune - 6.5/10
The South African goalkeeper once again proved his critics wrong and proved why he is the national side's first choice with two vital saves which kept the scoresheet at 2-1 in the dying moments of the game.
Thulani Hlatshwayo - 5/10
The Bafana Bafana captain did not have the best of games along with the rest of his line of defence and was caught out of position in moments which could have proven detrimental to South Africa's cause.
Eric Mathoho - 5/10
Bafana Bafana were lucky not to concede as the centre-back pairing were caught sleeping with Mathoho to blame for one of two pivotal mistakes that could've deterred Bafana Bafana's World Cup chances.
Rivaldo Coetzee - 5/10
The defender's lack of game time for Ajax Cape Town following his injury layoff is noticeable as he looked out of sorts and luckily for him Senegal were not really threatening attack wise.
Thabo Matlaba - 5/10
The defender should have buried the game in the in the 92nd minute following a counter attack. However, the left-back's finish was poor and Daine Klate was in the goal bound position, the winger could have easily tapped it in if he was given the ball.
Andile Jali - 5/10
The former Orlando Pirates midfielder is suffering in Belgium with warming the bench and yet is continuously being called up to the national side. Jali had a decent game in midfield but not up to the standard he often plays at.
Tiyani Mabunda - 5.5/10
A last-minute call up to the Bafana Bafana squad and was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI. However, the midfielder held his own in the middle of the park but the absence of Furman was surely missed.
Mpho Makola - 5/10
Thuso Phala is the PSL's in-form right winger and was surprised he did not get a run out against Senegal. However, Makola did put in two or three crosses which lead to the first goal.
Thulani Serero - 7/10
No game time at Ajax Amsterdam is doing Serero no harm as it seems. His link up play with Dolly is benefiting South Africa in attack and this is where his goal came from.
Keagan Dolly - 6/10
The 23-year-old's link up play with Serero and his vision on and off the ball is improving all the time. However, he should have scored a goal after Serero's layoff was perfectly given to the Sundowns winger.
Eleazar Rodgers - 5/10
Not the best of 57 minutes for the lanky striker and simply did not do enough in attack as he battled with Senegal's centre-back pairing.
Key substitutes:
Bradley Grobler - 5/10
Held the ball up nicely in the centre-forward role but had no joy in the second-half as Bafana Bafana were defending for most of the time.
Hlompho Kekana - 5/10
Shakes Mashaba brought on the midfielder to shut down things and seemed like a much preferred partner for Mabunda.
