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Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane. Photo: Etienne Rothbart

Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana were battered and bruised, but unbowed when they arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Monday after a nightmarish trip to Freetown.

They drew 0-0 against Sierra Leone in a tough 2012 African Nations Cup qualifier on Sunday night.

The biggest casualty was Kaizer Chiefs' star left wing Siphiwe Tshabalala, who was kicked in the hip and had to be helped to the team bus after its 12-hour charter flight from Freetown.

The bad news for Chiefs is that he will not be fit to play against Platinum Stars when the Absa Premiership resumes at the Makhulong Stadium on Saturday night after a month's break.

Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane was happy with his side’s gutsy display.

“We fought like soldiers. We showed we could play away from home and get results. This was a big point for us. We achieved our objective of returning still top of the group.”

Bafana now head Group G, with four points from two matches, after lowly Niger stunned African champions Egypt 1-0 at home to see the Pharaohs in trouble at the bottom of the group with one point.

“We have our fate in our hands,” said Mosimane.

“We have back-to-back matches against Egypt starting next March.

“The bottom line is we have to win our home matches, that is not negotiable, but the way we fought in Freetown shows we have the mental strength to go all the way and make it to the Afcon finals (in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon).”

Bafana skipper Aaron Mokoena said it was still early days.

“We still have a long way to go, but this was a mental victory. It was not easy playing in that pitch.

“The flight was tough, so were the conditions, but I am proud of the players who never buckled and showed we have character and mental strength.

“The fact we go into the two games against giants Egypt next year as group leaders is a big boost, but we still have a lot of work as Egypt know they have to beat us if they hope to defend their title.”

Mosimane described the state of the Brooksfield pitch, in Sierra Leone, as a “disgrace”.

It was not up to international standards and the Confederation of African Football should not allow official matches to be played there, he said.

“It did not help us, but at the same time it did not help the home side who also could not play on what was a dangerous pitch for the players.”

He was, nonetheless, delighted by the way the team stuck to its game play and kept its tactical discipline under pressure.

“It was a midfield war where there was no room for pretty football, but we came through because we kept our discipline.”

Mosimane praised goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune and midfielder Teko Modise, who replaced the injured Steven Pienaar before the match.

“I do not like to single out players, but Khune made two brilliant saves that kept us on the game while the much criticised Modise was superb for the full 90 minutes.”

He said fans should now get off the Orlando Pirates' star’s back.

“I always had faith in Modise. Sierra Leone were dangerous on the left and Modise’s experience was brilliant in snuffing out the danger from that area of their midfield.

“He showed again he is a top quality player. I knew he would not let me down. If he can come through this tough 90 minutes in Freetown then the PSL will be a piece of cake for him. I am happy to see his confidence is back.”

It was Bafana’s fourth match unbeaten and their third under Mosimane.

Mosimane was particularly pleased that Bafana have not conceded a goal in his three matches in charge.

“We are gaining in confidence. We beat France in the World Cup then Ghana 1-0, Niger 2-0 and now we have a credible 0-0 draw against Sierra Leone, but we cannot sit on our laurels.

“We now need to prepare for two tough matches against Egypt who are still one of the real giants of African soccer.” - Sapa