Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Iqraam Rayners were both in action for South Africa on Tuesday evening as Bafana Bafana progressed to the semi-final of the 2023 COSAFA Cup.

Stellenbosch FC’s Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Iqraam Rayners were handed starting berths by Bafana Bafana coach Morena Ramoreboli for the second match in a row as the national team took on eSwatini in their final 2023 COSAFA Cup Group A encounter in Durban.

Mthethwa played the full 90 minutes and impressed with his ability to break up play, while Rayners, who was named Man of the Match following last weekend’s victory over Botswana, played an integral role at the other end as South Africa recorded a 2-1 come-from-behind win.

With the match entering the dying stages, the latter was able to work a through-ball into the path of Tshegofatso Mabasa who made no mistake from close range to earn Bafana Bafana the win and secure their passage to the semi-final of this year’s competition.

There, they will face either Mauritius or Zambia, depending on Wednesday’s results, with the semi-final to be played on Friday, 14 July 2023.