South African media reacts to Olwethu Makhanya display vs Guinea as Rangers ace makes competitive international debut

Olwethu Makhanya has done nothing but impress Rangers fans since his arrival at Ibrox in the summer.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Gers from Philadelphia Union for £3million in July, may have had some games to forget in Europe.

However, two colossal performances against Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup and the Scottish Premiership have given the centre-back the status of an emerging Ibrox hero.

Makhanya's good form earned him a spot in the South Africa starting line-up on Saturday as they played Guinea in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Durban-born enforcer played all 90 minutes as Bafana Bafana won 2-1 to put themselves top of a qualifying group also containing Eritrea and Kenya.

But what were the South African media saying about Makhanya's display in the narrow victory over a team that the 2010 World Cup hosts were widely expected to win easily?

How Olwethu Makhanya performed in second South Africa cap

After making his debut for South Africa in a 0-0 draw with Nicaragua in May, Makhanya has had to wait five months in order to get his second cap.

Despite being in the South Africa squad at the World Cup in North America, he was an unused substitute in all of their four games.

Pitso Mosimane was re-appointed as Bafana Bafana's new manager earlier this month and instantly restored Makhanya to the starting line-up for his first game in charge.

And thankfully for Mosimane, the faith he showed in Makhanya was repaid.

The Citizen said that the Rangers centre-back "looked comfortable in posession and was rarely troubled defensively". On top of that, he also made a "solid partnership" with Ime Okon.

ESPN Africa journalist Leonard Solms hailed a "beautiful pass" from Makhanya, who was making his first competitive international start, that could have easily led to a late goal by South Africa.

South African football fans flooded social media with praise for Makhanya, too, but what did the stats say about his display?

Makhanya's stats vs Guinea

According to Sofascore, Makhanya made four defensive contributions against Guinea.

He won both of the two tackles he challenged for and made two clearances.

On top of that, the Ibrox ace won six recoveries and was successful in two of the three ground duels he contended, and won the only aerial duel he was involved in.

He wasn't dribbled past once and finished the game with an incredible 95 per cent pass accuracy.

There will no doubt be tougher tests ahead for Makhanya in South Africa's colours but regardless of the opposition on Saturday, Rangers and Bafana Bafana fans can be delighted with the defender's showing.