POLOKWANE – The South African national team, Bafana Bafana need only one point to secure a place in next year's African Nations Cup final in Tunisia, after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 in a qualifier at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Sunday.

Bafana played under immense pressure for the first six minutes. That resulted in their goalkeeper, André Arendse, saving what everybody was convinced was a goal, when Dion Dindane received a loose ball and released a ground cutter from close range.

The homeside gained momentum with time and they dominated in terms of ball possession soon thereafter. Their skilful defender, Tebogo Mokeona, was cautioned with a card for a foul on Kutu Domorad in the 15th minute. Stanton Fredericks caused an upset when he received a beautiful pass from Benny McCarthy and shot wide outside the penalty area.

The visitors' right back, Hugo Akale, was booked for ignoring the referee's whistle in the 25th minute. Bafana Bafana found the net a minute thereafter, when Shaun Bartlett blasted the ball in after a square pass from Delron Buckley. Ivory Coast retaliated six minutes before break. Keeper Andre Arendse palmed the ball back into the field of play, resulting in a scramble that led to Zuko Die hitting the net.

Bafana Bafana's coach Shakes Mashaba left Benny MacCarthy in the dressing room for Siyabonga Nomvete. Nomvete formed a deadly combination with Shaun Bartlett and Stanton Fredericks at the forefront.

The other Bafana player booked for rough tackling was Steven Pienaar. The long-awaited goal for Bafana came via substitute Siyabonga Nomvete in the 74th minute. The visitors came back strongly in the dying minutes, but their efforts went unrewarded.