Bafana might regret the countless chances they squandered

especially in the second half where they could have won by at least

six goals.

Goal difference could be important at the end of the

campaign. Niger were totally outclassed and will struggle in this

group that includes African champions Egypt and Sierra Leone.

Bafana's lack of killer instinct is something that head coach

Pitso Mosimane will be worrying about.

But Mosimane will be happy with the three points to kick start

his qualifying campaign.

Niger surprised with their tactics. Mosimane had expected Niger

to adopt a negative approach. To their credit the West Africans

tried to play an open game and match their more skilful opponents

who were cheered on by a near capacity 40 000 crowd.

Niger opted for time wasting tactics to slow the game down and

frustrate Bafana and as a result the Sudanese referee Abdel Rahman

Khalid played six minutes of injury time at the end of the first 45

minutes. But even this backfired on Niger as Bafana scored their

second goal in injury time.

Niger goalkeeper Losseiny Dounbia Issa was the busiest Niger

player on the pitch during the 90 minutes.

The fact it was only 2-0 was down to Issa's skill. The big Niger

keeper made a couple of decent saves in the first half but could

not prevent Bafana going in to the halftime break 2-0 ahead. In the

second half he stopped an avalanche of shots.

Bafana were in their element in the first 45 minutes with their

opponents allowing them to dictate the pace and as a result Bafana

had Niger chasing shadows.

Bafana started brightly and made their intentions clear from the

kick-off. Siphiwe Tshabalala had a goal bound shot defected for a

corner in the second minute. A minute later Issa did well to deny

Katlego Mphela the opening goal. But Issa could do nothing to stop

Mphela scoring his 18th international goal in the 12th minute when

Mphela was set up by a live-wire Steven Pienaar who split the

defence with a superb ball that Mphela chipped over the advancing

keeper's head.

Niger striker Maazou Moussa tested Bafana keeper with a stinging

20 metre shot in the 17th minute that Khune dealt with comfortably.

But that was the only time Niger came close to scoring in a one

sided qualifier.

Niger defender Mohamed Chicoto came to the rescue when he timed

a great tackle to prevent Mphela getting another strike on goal on

20 minutes.

Bafana roared on by the massive crowd had Niger under the whip.

Tshabalala missed a sitter from close range when the Kaizer

Chiefs left winger collected a stunning cross from budding star

right back Anele Ngconca in the 25th minute.

Issa pulled off a point-blank save in the 38th minute from

Mphela. But the pressure paid off in the referee's optional time

when Ngcongca sent in another brilliant cross that was volleyed

into the back of the net by Dutch based striker Bernard Parker to

give Bafana their two goal cushion at halftime.

Belgium based Ngcongca nearly made it 3-0 in the last minute of

injury time but his shot flew over the crossbar.

It was too easy for Bafana who squandered countless chances in

the second half. Parker fluffed what looked a simple opportunity

when he tamely shot at Issa in the 54th minuet. A minute later

Parker forced the Niger keeper to make another good save.

Then three minutes later it was Tshabalala's chance to miss an

open goal when he fired over the crossbar form close range.

Bafana were queuing up but despite having Niger on the rack

failed to make the most of their chances and the chance to start

their campaign off with a more convincing win. Some of the misses

would have embarrassed a schoolboy side.

The Bafana defence, which had little to do, went to sleep and

allowed Moussa the chance to reduce the deficit but the newly

signed Bordeaux striker fired into the side netting in the 67th

minute.

Mphela shot wide of the target in the 69th minute.

Issa, the Niger man of the match pulled off a great save from

Pienaar in the 71st minute. A minute later Mphela contrived to miss

when it looked easier to score.

Mphela who could have netted two hat-tricks saw another shot

saved by issa in the 75th minute. Then it went from bad to worse in

the 78th minute when Pienaar set up debutant striker Kermit Erasmus

who with an open goal. Erasmus froze and lost the chance to score

on his debut.

Issa then denied substitute Teko Modise a goal in the 86th

minute when another incredible stop.

At the end of the night Bafana collected three points and

started their campaign off with a solid win without conceding a

goal.