South Africa vs Ghana LIVE!
South Africa’s last-minute preparations for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations ended with a win as they defeated Ghana 1-0 at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto. Sipho Mbule’s strike from range on 57 minutes proved the difference in a affair that Bafana Bafana dominated throughout. Hugo Broos’ side were heavy favourites, despite missing three of their European-based stars.
Lyle Foster, Shandre Campbell and Sphephelo Sithole were all unavailable, with FIFA having changed the deadline for players to report for AFCON duty from December 8 to December 15. However, Broos still had the main crux of his squad to pick from, and it was his talisman Mbule who came up with the goods when it mattered on a frustrating afternoon for the South Africans.
Evidence Makgopa was starved of service throughout, with most of the good play coming down the flanks from Mohau Nkota, Tshepang Moremi, and Oswin Appollis when he came off the bench. The hosts were given a scare towards the end when Emmanuel Annor broke into the South Africa box and rattled the woodwork with a snapshot that surprised substitute goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who was called into action shortly after as a deflected cross needed acrobatically tipping over the crossbar.
South Africa vs Ghana latest news
- POST! Annor rattles woodwork
- GOAL! Mbule fires hosts ahead
- CLOSE! Moremi fires wide
- CLOSE! Mbule strikes wide
FT: South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:56 , Oli GentThere we have it. Bafana Bafana go into AFCON with a win, thanks to Sipho Mbule's wonderstrike.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back very soon for even more LIVE African football.
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:51 , Oli Gent90 mins: Four added minutes.
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:47 , Oli Gent86 mins: Close! But there is a real scare as Chaine is given his first bit of work to do! The second phase brings a cross that is deflected towards goal by a Bafana shirt, and the hosts’ keeper acrobatically tips it over!
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:47 , Oli Gent85 mins: Free kick, Ghana. There are four men over this in a dangerous position for the Black Stars. The inital shot is into the wall...
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:44 , Oli Gent83 mins: The clock is winding down here, but that Annor chance has given Ghana a bit of hope, it seems...
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:39 , Oli Gent78 mins: Off the post! A real scare for Bafana as they switch off under the long punt forward, and Annor races into the box. He goes for the snapshot, and rattles the woodwork!
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:38 , Oli Gent77 mins: A more aggressive press from the hosts as we enter the final stages. They want another goal.
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:34 , Oli Gent73 mins: Close! The cross from Appollis doesn’t quite drop for anyone in a Bafana shirt and it spins just wide of the far post!
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:32 , Oli Gent71 mins: Ghana break as Annor is up on his own and looks clean through, but Sibisi stops him in his tracks!
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:27 , Oli Gent66 mins: A worry for Ghana as Seidu is stretched off an Abban comes on. Mensah is on for Adams. Amoah replaces Mamudu.
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:24 , Oli Gent64 mins: ‘Masterchef’ Mbule is being replaced by Mofokeng. A rousing ovation greets him as he heads towards the bench.
South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:22 , Oli Gent61 mins: A fabulous strike from Mbule and the elusive opener that South Africa were searching for. What can Ghana do to respond?
Goal! South Africa 1-0 Ghana
15:19 , Oli Gent57 mins: It’s there, and Bafana Bafana are ahead in style. It’s Mbule that’s got it, with his strike from range arrowing past Osei and into the back of the Ghana net!
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
15:16 , Oli Gent55 mins: Some nice interplay from Ghana to get out of their own half in a rare foray, but Owusu isn’t impressed with a cross-field pass that is pumped way over his head and out for a throw.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
15:12 , Oli Gent52 mins: Appollis has been a real handful since his introduction. He’s shown tricky feet and already sent in a number of dangerous crosses.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
15:09 , Oli Gent49 mins: Modiba strikes, but it’s straight into the wall.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
15:09 , Oli Gent48 mins: Mbule overruns the ball a tad, but is felled by Adams, who pushes him into the back. A real chance for Bafana Bafana with the free kick from about 20 yards here.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
15:06 , Oli Gent46 mins: Kick off!
Appollis, Mokoena, and Chaine are all on.
HT: South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:49 , Oli GentThere’s the interval, and while it’s been all Bafana Bafana, we go in level.
What will the second half have in store?
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:48 , Oli Gent45 mins: Good save, but offside! Ghana play themselves into trouble, and Makgopa looks to slide Nkota in, but the winger has gone too early. Two added minutes.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:44 , Oli Gent44 mins: Adams lets out a yelp as he is caught by Mbule tight to the left touchline. Free kick, Ghana, and a telling off for the hosts’ star man.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:42 , Oli Gent42 mins: Close! The best move of the day from Bafana Bafana as Mbule finds Moremi, who spins and gets a shot away, and the powerful effort whizzes past the post!
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:41 , Oli Gent40 mins: Some shaky moments at the back for Ghana as Ndamane makes first contact from the hosts’ corner, causing a melee in the Ghana box.
Adams is finally able to hack clear, however.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:38 , Oli Gent37 mins: Good defending from Afful, who does well to stop Nkota down the South Africa right, but Bafana Bafana really hammering on the door now.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:36 , Oli Gent35 mins: The flag goes up against Owusu, whose early run is caught. It looked as though he may have been clean through had the flag stayed down!
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:33 , Oli Gent32 mins: Aubaas is down holding his chin after an elbow in midfield.
Broos looks concerned in the home dugout.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:30 , Oli Gent29 mins: Close! Mbule is over this free kick for Bafana Bafana. It’s direct, and he goes for goal from a long way out, but that’s not troubling Osei.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:28 , Oli Gent26 mins: More sustained pressure from the home side, who just will not let up. Modiba has it down the left, but can’t get his cross away in the end.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:24 , Oli Gent23 mins: Close! The first real opening of the game as Moremi is at the heart of things once more, and Mbule runs onto it and strikes, but it’s just wide of the target!
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:23 , Oli Gent22 mins: Free kick, South Africa. Moremi darts down the left and is upended. A chance for the hosts to swing one into the box, but it’s wasted.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:20 , Alex Young18min: A lovely long ball from defence is collected on the left wing by Mbatha, who turns inside to find Aubaas to float a cross to the back post. Makgopa reaches for the ball, but it sails just over his head.
Plenty of possession for the hosts, but Ghana standing firm so far.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:17 , Alex Young16min: It is wave after wave of South Africa attacks, Ghana are struggling to get a foothold.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:16 , Alex Young13min: First shot on target from Ghana, and it’s a weak one from Afful from distance, which Goss gratefully collects.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:15 , Alex Young11min: South Africa win a free kick out on the right-hand side, near the touchline. Nkota whips in a fierce delivery toward the near post, but Makgopa cannot direct a header on target.
South Africa 0-0 Ghana
14:12 , Alex Young5min: It’s been a bright start from the hosts, who have earned a couple of early corners.
Kick off!
14:04 , Oli Gent1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning
13:56 , Oli GentThe players are on their way out, and we are about to get underway.
10 minutes to kick off!
13:50 , Oli GentWho will come out on top?
Ghana XI
13:41 , Oli GentOsei; Mamudu, Afful, Simpson, Abban; Adams, Dogli, Owusu; Kusi-Asante, Seidu, Annor
Subs: Kyei, Kuffuour, Aziz, Amoah, Mohammed, Abban, Mensah, Yeboah, Kumi
South Africa XI
13:36 , Oli GentGoss; Matuludi, Ndamane, Sibisi, Modiba; Aubaas, Mbatha; Nkota, Mbule, Moremi; Makgopa
Subs: Chaine, Williams, Mokoena, Mofokeng, Kabini, Mbokazi, Appollis, Mokwana, Ngezana, Mudau
Ghana lineup
13:20 , Oli Gent👥 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 — Here’s how #BlackGalaxies line up for today’s international friendly against South Africa.
— 🇬🇭 Ghana Football Association (@ghanafaofficial) December 16, 2025
🇬🇭🆚🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/QWPagcbcF8
South Africa lineup
13:10 , Oli GentBafana Bafana starting 11 vs Ghana#BafanaPride@10bet_ZA @CastleLagerSA @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/GWVj0Tsf71
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) December 16, 2025
South Africa's 'problem'
13:00 , Oli GentThey may not have their European-based stars, but that doesn’t (really) seem to faze Broos.
"It's a little problem; it's not a big problem,” he said pre-match.
“I'm happy to be the coach of a country where the majority of the players are local players - because if otherwise, you can't start the camp; you have to start it next week.
“So I don't think that my colleagues in the other countries will be so happy for the moment.”
What's happening with Mbokazi?
12:45 , Oli GentThere has been drama in the South Africa camp after manager Hugo Broos publicly called out 20-year-old Mbekezeli Mbokazi for reporting late for international duty.
Broos was under-fire from South African fans and press alike for his comments, which also contained a slant at the defender for his move to Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire.
"It's not even a top team in America,” Broos said of Mbokazi’s transfer.
“If my info is right, he's going to play in the MLS 2 at the second team of Chicago, I don't know if it's true, I'll ask him when I see him. That's even worse.”
Why are Ghana not at AFCON?
12:30 , Oli GentSimple reason? They didn’t qualify.
It sounds bonkers, but the Black Stars, the four-times champions of the continent, will not take part in Morocco over the winter.
It is the first time since 2004 that they failed to reach the main tournament, and a 0-0 draw with Angola sealed their fate.
They finished bottom of Group F, behind Angola, Sudan and Niger.
They did not win a single game, drawing three and losing the others.
Standard Sport prediction
12:15 , Oli GentSouth Africa will be favourites here with the more experienced squad, but Ghana’s strength in depth cannot be denied.
That said, Bafana Bafana are in the tune-up for AFCON, where they want to go far, and it is unlikely that they will show any mercy here.
South Africa to win, 2-0.
Ghana team news
12:00 , Oli GentAs for the Ghanaians, they will be without their stars, and in fact, their head coach.
Otto Addai will not be on the bench for this one, with it instead being Kassim Mingle that will lead the Black Stars.
The squad will consist purely of uncapped players, so the likes of Inaki Williams and Antoine Semenyo will not feature.
South Africa team news
11:45 , Oli GentSouth Africa are unlikely to have their European-based stars available to them today.
Lyle Foster, Shandre Campbell and Sphephelo Sithole won’t feature here, but there are plenty of South African Premiership stars on display that will.
The big talking point is the No10 position, where Sipho Mbule usually plays, but Hugo Broos could turn to Relebohile Mofokeng after his spike in form.
Themba Zwane is out injured, and there have been calls for Thembinkosi Lorch to get a look-in, despite Broos’ preference for younger talent.
Hello and welcome!
11:30 , Oli Gent... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of South Africa’s pre-Africa Cup of Nations friendly against Ghana.
Bafana Bafana are playing their last game before the tournament kicks off in Morocco later this week.
The Black Stars, however, won’t be in north Africa having not qualified for the competition.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with kick off at 2pm GMT.
