Bafana Bafana of South Africa on Saturday night defeated the Les Leopards of DR Congo to finish third at the 2023 AFCON going on in Cote D’Ivoire.
Captain and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams was the hero again for the Southern African country as he saved two penalties to secure a third place finish for his team.
All efforts by both sides to break the deadlocks proved abortive as the center referee signalled the end of proceedings between the two teams at Stade Fekix Houghout, Boigny, Ebimpe.
Williams saved spot kicks from Chancel Mbemba and Meschack Elia to give Bafana Bafana the bronze medal in the Ivory Coast.
Before Elia had his kick saved, Siyanda Xulu converted to give South Africa what proved the decisive lead in the shootout.
Williams saved four shootout kicks last weekend to help South Africa get past Cape Verde after a goalless quarter-final.
DR Congo will regret many misses chances during regular time in a lively match while South Africa maintained a perfect record in third place play-offs having beaten Tunisia on penalties 24 years ago.
South Africa made three changes to the team beaten in a penalty shootout by Nigeria after an incident-packed semi-final three days ago.
Nkosinathi Sibisi, Thapelo Morena and Mihlali Mayambela came in for suspended Grant Kekana and injured duo Mothobi Mvala and Percy Tau.
DR Congo retained only two of the side that lost to hosts Ivory Coast in the other semi-final — captain and centre-back Mbemba and midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy.
The result meant that both sides would have to wait a bit longer to search for their second and third AFCON trophies.