SOUTH Africa took third at the Africa Cup of Nations after beating DR Congo 6-5 on penalties to secure their best finish at a Nations Cup since 2000.
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams was the key man again, as the quarter-final hero saved two spot-kicks.
First, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba had the chance to win it, only for Williams to block, before Meshack Elia’s penalty was also saved.
The game, which ended goalless, went straight to penalties after 90 minutes.
In the quarter-final win against Cape Verde, Williams saved four penalties in the shootout.
In Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium, he again proved key after Tebogo Mokoena, who has been a key factor in South Africa’s run in Ivory Coast, hit the post with the first penalty. Shortly after the skipper secured South Africa’s success, Belgian coach Hugo Broos was given the bumps after adding a third-place finish to his 2017 triumph with Cameroon.
Bafana Bafana last ended up on the podium in 2000, when beating Tunisia on penalties, while DR Congo were looking for their best tournament since 1998.
DR Congo meanwhile, missed out on finishing third for the first time since 1998, which is when South Africa last contested a Nations Cup final and two years after their only triumph.
The Leopards will wonder how they failed to beat South Africa after missing several chances late on, with Mbembe and Fiston Mayele wasting very inviting opportunities.
South Africa, who have now won all three of their Nations Cup encounters with DR Congo, will feel their dramatic victory rewards a campaign when they have both surprised and impressed many observers.
Having fielded a starting XI largely composed of players from Pretoria-based Mamelodi Sundowns, the settled side have conceded just one goal in their last six games – in the semi-final defeat to Nigeria.
Nonetheless, they rode their luck against the Congolese – who had made nine changes to the team beaten in the semi-finals – on several occasions.
