A Katlego Mphela first half goal gave South Africa a 1-0 victory over Ghana in a friendly on Wednesday.

The game at the Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg was the first since Ghana went out in the quarter-final stages at the World Cup at the same venue.

However, it marked preparations for both sides ahead of the start of qualifying for the 2012 African Nations Cup next month.

Ghana, missing some regular starters, paraded a blend of a handful experienced players and youth as new Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane got off to a winning start.

Black Stars goalkeeper Richard Kingson twice had to come off his line to block goal-bound efforts by Mphela before the Bafana Bafana striker finally struck the back of the net three minutes before recess.

Milovan Rajevac made his first change, bringing on young goalkeeper Daniel Agyei for Kingson as South Africa led 1-0 after the break.

The Black Stars looked composed in the second half and pushed for the equaliser as the hosts occasionally broke on the counter.

Ghana's best chance in the second half fell to Asamoah Gyan who let goal a shot from inside the box after a beautiful cut-back from Yaw Antwi but the South African goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune gathered well.

Rajevac before the final whistle ringed more changes, handing out senior debuts to Cofie Bekoe, Bernard Kumordzi, Ransford Osei and Bright Addae.

The Ghana bench took off Anthony Annan, Andre Ayew, Haminu Draman, Asamoah Gyan and Lee Addy for Kumordzi, Bekoe, Yaw Antwi, Osei and Addae.

Ghana begins its African Nations Cup qualifying campaign away to Swaziland on the weekend of September 3-5.

Ghana line up: Richard Kingson/Daniel Agyei, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Lee Addy/Bright Addae, Anthony Annan/Bernard Kumordzi, Haminu Draman/Yaw Antwi, Agyemang-Badu, Asamoah Gyan/Ransford Osei, Kwadwo Asamoah, Andre Ayew/Cofie Bekoe

Subs: Daniel Agyei, Bright Addae, Cofie Bekoe, Bernard Kumordzi, Ransford Osei, Yaw Antwi