South Africa were held to a 0-0 draw by Nicaragua at Orlando Stadium on Friday in their final home friendly ahead of the FIFA World Cup, a performance that fell short of what the team will need to progress from Group A, according to the match report.
The first half offered two clear openings. Themba Zwane began a promising move with a backheel outside the box that culminated in Kamogelo Sebelebele’s cross, but Zwane failed to connect. Sebelebele, used on the right wing rather than at right-back where Thabang Matuludi started, won a penalty on the stroke of half-time; Lyle Foster struck the post from the spot.
The second half saw the stadium fill as late-arriving supporters arrived after a 6 p.m. kick-off. Coach Hugo Broos introduced Oswin Appollis on the left wing and the Orlando Pirates winger sparked a flurry of openings early after the break. Appollis forced a difficult scooped parry from Erick Pineda Castrillo with a 49th-minute drive, but lacked consistent support from teammates. Thapelo Maseko drew a save with a powerful effort in the 62nd minute, and a Relebohile Mofokeng free kick created a situation that required an astute double-save from Pineda Castrillo. Jayden Adams went close later on.
Although the crowd grew louder in the closing stages, attendance was noticeably lighter than recent fixtures. Orlando Stadium had many empty seats compared with a packed house 13 days earlier for Orlando Pirates’ 0-0 draw with Durban City and the full-capacity friendly in Cape Town against Panama on March 31. The report noted Johannesburg’s advantages as a training base — altitude and the concentration of national-team players — but added that fans in the city have many club options, with the country’s three biggest clubs nearby.
The match report said the contrast between the vibrant atmospheres at major club games and the tepid mood on Friday offers a reminder to the South African Football Association that progress under Broos does not yet guarantee widespread national backing. Surprise substitute Bradley Cross drew the loudest cheers after coming on at left-back, having become a fan favorite at Kaizer Chiefs for his skillful, crowd-pleasing play.
