Bafana's draw with Congo-Brazzaville delays their qualification to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Bafana Bafana players – with some holding their waists, while others knelt on the Alphonse Massamba-Debat Stadium's astroturf – cut dejected figures at full-time in their 1-1 draw with Congo-Brazzaville on Tuesday night.

The draw, which took Bafana to eight points while the Red Devils sit on four, delayed their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).  

Elias Mokwana's goal, which was cancelled out by Mons Bassouamina's strike late into the first half, means that Bafana have to wait until next month to secure a spot in the Afcon for the second edition in a row – something they last did on the pitch in the 2006 and 2008 editions. 

In 2013 and 2015, Bafana secured back-to-back qualifications, but the former was by virtue of them being hosts.

The 1-1 draw puts them in second place in Group K – two points behind Uganda, who top the group and are among the teams that have already qualified for next year's showpiece. 

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Next month's qualifiers, where Bafana will visit the Cranes in Kampala before hosting South Sudan in the last match, will be a straight shootout for the remaining Group K slot between South Africa and Congo as the top two teams qualify for the biennial showpiece.

The Red Devils' last two matches will see them go to South Sudan before ending the campaign at home to Uganda. 

Bafana, however, are in control of that battle – as they need just three points from these matches to join the Cranes.

The Red Devils need to win both their games and hope that Bafana crumbles in their last two games.  

The disappointment that was etched on Bafana players' faces and body language was because they went backwards after thumping