Bafana Bafana face Cape Verde in the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Saturday, hoping to overturn a three-game winless streak against the island nation.
South Africa are tipped by many as favorites to win against Cape Verde, but they haven't beaten Saturday's opponents in nearly 20 years.
Pacati looks back at all five previous meetings between the two teams, starting with Mbulelo “Old John” Mabizela's one-man show.
June 8, 2004
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
South Africa 2 (Mabizela 41, 69) Cape Verde 1 (Hanisio Martins 74)
Mbulelo Mabizela was one of the best defenders this country has ever produced and it is a real shame that his off-field issues have had such a negative impact on his playing career.
In this joint African Cup of Nations/FIFA World Cup qualifier, Mabizela was at the peak of Tottenham Hotspur's record and was appointed captain of the team by head coach Stuart Baxter. Bafana struggled against Cape Verde in Bloemfontein, but Mabizela grabbed the game by the scruff of his neck, scoring five minutes before half-time and scoring an absolute rocket in the 68th minute (see below) ).
June 5, 2005
Estadio de Valzea, Praia
Cape Verde 1 (Arlindo Gomez 78) Bafana Bafana 2 (Buckley 11, McCarthy 13)
Bafana Bafana made easy work of what could have been a tricky away day in Cape Verde's capital, Praia, in their return to World Cup qualifying almost a year later. Early goals from Delron Buckley and Benny McCarthy quieted the raucous home crowd, and Arlindo Gomez's goal in the 77th minute was Cape Verde's only consolation.
The victory took Bafana to the top of their World Cup qualifying group, but their joy was short-lived as they lost at home to Ghana, dashing Bafana's dreams of playing in Germany 2006. Mr Baxter resigned in November 2005, alleging there was a conspiracy to remove him from his post. Ted Dumitru took charge of his team in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, but the team finished the tournament without scoring a single point or a single goal.
January 19, 2013
FNB Stadium
Bafana Bafana 0 Cape Verde 0
Gordon Igesund's Bafana Bafana opened the 2013 African Cup of Nations final against Cape Verde at the FNB Stadium.
The match, played in the pouring rain in Johannesburg, was a lackluster affair with neither team posing much of an attacking threat.
“The players were very nervous,” Igesund said after the game.
“I've never seen them like that. We didn't hold the ball as long as we could and we didn't rush it.”
September 1, 2017
Cape Verde National Stadium, Praia
Cape Verde 2 (Nuno Rocha, 33, 38 (pen)) Bafana Bafana 1 (Lanti 14)
With Stuart Baxter back in charge, Bafana Bafana exploded into a 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign in about five days, losing back-to-back games to Cape Verde.
In the first leg in Praia, Tokelo Lanti beat the Cape Verde defense to give Bafana a 1-0 lead, but the home side had taken the lead before the break. Nuno Rocha fired a shot past Ronwen Williams, who then converted the shot.
To make matters worse for Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs defender Eric Matoho was sent off in the second half.
September 5, 2017
Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban
Bafana Bafana 1 (Hari 90) Cape Verde 2 (Gary Rodriguez 52, 67)
Bafana would have had a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup had they defeated Cape Verde four days later in Durban. Instead, it was Cape Verde who boosted their hopes of going to Russia with two incredible goals from Gary Rodriguez.
Rodriguez took a free-kick in the 52nd minute that went past Wayne Sandilands, and he fired home a rocket in the 67th minute to give the Blue Sharks a famous victory. A late goal from substitute Andile Hari wasn't enough to help Bafana.