South Africa fought back to hold Algeria to a 1-1 draw in the 2024 African Nations Championship Group C match at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda, on Friday evening.
As a result, Bafana Bafana remained third in the group standings after starting their Chan campaign with a draw.
Bafana Bafana fightback to grab a point against Algeria 🤝#SSDiski | #TotalEnergiesCHAN2024 pic.twitter.com/XaSOquZ7Um
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 8, 2025
Coach Molefi Ntseki's side will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways when they face Guinea on 11 August.
The Desert Foxes, on the other hand, remained at the top of the group standings with four points from two games.
The 2022 Chan runners-up will be back in action on 15 August as they lock horns with Guinea.
It was a balanced encounter until the Desert Foxes broke the deadlock a minute before the half-hour mark, as Abdennour Belhocini beat goalkeeper Samukelo Xulu with a powerful shot to give Algeria a 1-0 lead.
Bafana responded by playing balls in behind the Desert Foxes' defence and this move paid off on the stroke of halftime.
Menzi Masuku set up Thabiso Kutumela, who scored to make it 1-1 heading into the halftime break.
The stadium erupts as Thabiso Kutumela equalises for South Africa 🇿🇦🎉
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 8, 2025
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCHAN2024 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/KiWIlOomg9
Both teams launched attacks after the restart as Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo's effort narrowly missed the target in the 50th minute and at the other end, Xulu was forced to produce a fine save to keep the Algerians at bay.
Samukelo Xulu's reflexes 🤯⚡
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 8, 2025
He keeps Algeria out with a brilliant save 🤚⛔
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesCHAN2024 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/MUlVE2tqK5
Ndlondlo was determined to hand South Africa the lead and the attacking midfielder unleashed another long-range shot in the 76th minute, which missed the target.
Ultimately, the match ended in a 1-1 draw as the two sides shared the spoils.
Algeria (1) 1 (Belhocini 29')
South Africa (1) 1 (Kutumela 45')
ALGERIA: Bouhalfaya, Halaimia, Alilet, Ghezala, Chetti, Merbah, Boukerchaoui (Merghem 83'), Belhocini (Akhrib 62'), Draoui, Meziane, Mahious (Bayazid 83')
SOUTH AFRICA: Xulu, Mphahlele, Johannes, Mngonyama, Khoza (Makaringe 66'), Mashego (Lepasa 83'), Ndlondlo, Maema (Masiya 83'), Jooste, Kutumela (Tlolane 83'), Masuku (Dolly 66')
