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South Africa ended their COSAFA Cup campaign on a high with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Botswana in the Plate final at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday evening. Defender Motjeka Madisha and midfielders Aubrey Madiba and Lebohang Maboe, scored the goals as a fresher Bafana Bafana side romped to a deserved victory to lift the Plate for the second year running. While there will be disappointment that the youthful Bafana side had not made headway in the main Cup competition, for coach Stuart Baxter it is likely mission accomplished as he ended the competition unbeaten and gave game-time to all of the outfield players in the squad. Botswana have been excellent in the tournament, but a sixth game in 12 days was just too much for them and they lacked the fizz that had characterized their displays earlier in the competition. South Africa might have won by a greater margin, while chances were few and far between for The Zebras. Siphesihle Ndlovu was finding space down the right-hand side all game and his early combination play with Ryan Moon brought a number of opportunities that were not taken. Maboe then fed Moon for a chance from a tight angle, but Botswana goalkeeper Mwampole Masule was equal to his first-time shot. But from the resultant corner, South Africa hit the front. Botswana could only half-clear and when the ball came back to Modiba, his left-footed cross was perfect for Madisha to steer his header past a stranded Masule on 39 minutes. South Africa continued to dominate in the second period, though fatigue for both sides saw the tempo drop. It was 2-0 to South Africa with 12 minutes remaining as a swift break saw Ndlovu rampage down the right-hand side having beaten the offside trap and his square-ball was easily tapped home by Modiba for his second goal in as many matches. The home side grabbed another as Maboe raced clear and rounded Masule to score his third of the competition.
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