Pitso Mosimane's second stint as South Africa head coach started with a 2-1 win over Guinea in Saturday's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at Orlando Stadium - with substitute Samukele Kabini's winner giving cause for optimism in South Africa's strength in depth.
There were chances at both ends in the first half, but centre-back Ime Okon broke the deadlock on the verge of the half-hour mark after a ball into the box was diverted into his path by Sphephelo Sithole.
Guinea had left a warning of what was to come right before half-time when a Serhou Guirassy strike via a free-kick tee-up flashed past the top corner.
The National Elephants started strongest in the second half and scored in the 69th minute through a stroke of good fortune which they had, in fairness, earned through persistence.
They had won another free-kick just outside the box and Guirassy's strike cannoned off the Bafana wall into the path of Seydouba Cissé. The offside flag stayed down, leaving Cisse one-on-one with Ronwen Williams, and he slotted home.
However, in the 77th minute, Mosimane's substitutions paid off. Starting winger Oswin Appollis dropped into a pocket of space and passed on to Yanela Mbuthuma - who had come off the bench for Iqraam Rayners.
Mbuthuma laid it on effortlessly with a sublime first touch to Kabini - playing the substitute left-back in one-on-one to slot past Soumaïla Sylla for the winner.
Kabini had picked up where starting left-back Aubrey Modiba had left off in causing problems for Guinea down Bafana's left flank, while Kamogelo Sebelebele had a superb game on the opposite side at right-back -- filling in for the injured Khuliso Mudau -- with six successful tackles to win the Man of the Match award.
However, there were signs throughout the game that many of Bafana's longstanding problems endure despite an abundance of strength in depth. Most notably, there were several missed chances.
One of the most glaring was in the ninth minute, when Relebohile Mofokeng pounced on a defensive mix-up to go through on goal only to slot wide.
Mofokeng was not alone in fluffing his lines. In stoppage time at the end of the game, Mbuthuma missed a golden opportunity to put the game to bed.
Centre-back Olwethu Makhanya -- another golden example of Bafana's depth -- played Teboho Mokoena into space on South Africa's right flank. The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder's cross picked out Mbuthuma, but he somehow failed to connect cleanly, fluffing his lines from close range.
Fortunately for Mosimane, he can afford to chalk the missed opportunities up as a learning experience, with three points in the bag. Kenya drew 1-1 to Eritrea in the other Group D qualifier, meaning South Africa are top of the table after the first of six matchdays.
Given that Kenya automatically qualify as co-hosts (together with Tanzania and Uganda), Mosimane's charges will need to win the group to be guaranteed progress to the tournament.
South Africa will head to Cairo to take on Eritrea in another AFCON qualifier on Wednesday, Sep. 30 before a friendly against Egypt on Sunday, Oct. 4.