Bafana Bafana of South Africa went back on top of Group G after a nervy 1-0 win over Ethiopia on Tuesday, as they kept their hopes of a place at the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup on track.

The win at home takes Bafana Bafana to 10 points, one ahead of second placed Ghana who had earlier beaten Zimbabwe by a solitary goal.

With two rounds of matches left, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are out of contention for a place in the play off.

An own goal from Ethiopia skipper Getaneh Kebede in the first half was the difference the South Africans needed to keep their chase for a World Cup spot alive.

Kebede turned the ball into his own net in the 10th minute of the game as he attempted to cut away a header from Victor Letsoalo who had risen to meet a corner from Yusuf Maart.

Ethiopia almost equalized in the 17th minute when Mesud Musa sighted space from range and took a cracking effort at goal, but it skipped inches over the bar. Seven minutes later, they came very close again when Abubaker Nasser took a shot on the half turn but the effort went wide again.

In the second half, Ethiopia continued with the chase as South Africa merely held on. But, the home side almost got a reprieve with a second goal but Evidence Makgopa could not connect on goal with an effort from a cross.

Ethiopia continued pressing to get an equalizer, but their action in the final third failed them.