Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has heaped praise on his side following their impressive display during their 2-0 victory over Botswana in their Chan qualifier on Saturday.

Goals from Ryan Moon and Gift Motupa handed the South African national team the win during the first leg at the Francistown Stadium in Botswana.

Baxter says he was pleased with his side’s performance against a ‘tough’ Botswana side, despite the home side seeing more possession of the ball.

“It was a hard-fought game, even though I thought we had a good control of the game for the 90 minutes. Botswana played well with the ball, and we knew that away from home we needed to take a result back to South Africa,” Baxter said.

“Once we scored the goal, it became a question of can they pick their way through us when we are organised, or can we hit them when they are a little bit disorganised, and, if I am being honest, we were closer to getting another goal than they were to reducing the deficit.

“I was pleased with the way the players performed and I am also pleased that the younger ones got some experience, and they were outstanding too. I think Teboho Mokoena was very, very good. I thought that a couple of experienced ones, captain Mario Booysen and Cole Alexander, were very good too, and obviously delighted with the two-nil win away from home at a difficult place like Botswana.”

The Bafana mentor continued to say that he was impressed by the way his players kept their structure throughout the match.

“The players kept shape throughout the match and they knew what to do to win the match here in Botswana, which is difficult, especially because we have just beaten them in the Cosafa, so I just think it is just impressive that the players have played in that way.”

‘They kept to the instructions very well,” Baxter concluded.

Bafana Bafana will now return home in preparation for their second leg tie against Botswana at the Moruleng Stadium on Saturday.

Kick-off has been scheduled for 15:00.