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BAFANA QUALIFY FOR NATIONS CUP
South African and the Democratic Republic of Congo booked the final two places at the African Nations Cup finals in Egypt next year after playing out a 2-2 draw in their last World Cup qualifier in Durban on Saturday.
The tie ensured the two sides filed second third berth in African qualifying zone Group Two, from which Ghana won a place at the World Cup finals in Germany and the top three qualified for the 16-team continental championship in Egypt in January.
Sibusiso Zuma scored twice for South Africa but they had to rally in the second half to get the point they needed to make sure of qualification.
Zuma opened the scoring for South Africa with a close range slide in the sixth minute but by half-tie the beleaguered side were 2-1 down.
Tresor Mputu had equalised for Congo in the 12th minute as he snuck in unmarked at the back post to head home across and captain Shabani Nonda put the Congolese 2-1 ahead on the stroke of half-time with a swiveling shot from close range.
It was left to German-based Zuma to achieve parity in the 53rd minute as he cut inside two defenders to shoot home from the edge of the penalty area.
South Africa started without their two leading strikers Shaun Bartlett and Benni McCarthy, who had both been injured in training during the week.
The draw means South Africa have now gone nine matches without a win, which equals their worst-ever run.
But the point was enough to end the outside hopes of Burkina Faso, who were hoping that South Africa would lose and they beat Uganda away in Kampala. But Burkina were held to a 2-2 in east Africa.
South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo join the 14 teams who had already qualified for the event last month.
They are Egypt (hosts), Angola, Cameroon, Ghana, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
All have previously played at the final tournament.