Mosimane urges squad to show character as Afcon hopes hang in the balance

The honeymoon period is over for Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, and qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in East Africa next year has suddenly become complicated.

Mosimane started his second tenure with wins over Guinea and Eritrea recently to take full control of Group D, but Friday’s 2-2 draw with Benni McCarthy’s Kenya at Orlando Stadium may have far-reaching consequences.

There was also a high-profile friendly win over Egypt, but the Kenya draw has brought the coach and the team down to earth, and they have to deal with and manage the realities of Group D.

South Africa are still top of the group, but their position has been slightly weakened by second-placed Guinea beating Eritrea at home on Thursday.

Going into the business end of the qualifiers, Bafana have garnered seven points with Guinea on six, and this leaves South Africa in a tricky situation where they must win all the remaining three matches.

In the first of those matches, Bafana must dust themselves off and get maximum points in the return leg against the Harambee Stars in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Then, next year, they will travel to what is expected to be hostile Conakry to face Guinea, before completing the qualification programme against Eritrea at home.

Ideal situation

On the plus side for Mosimane is that Guinea plays Eritrea on Monday in Cairo, where they could go top of the log with a win, and Bafana will know what they need to do against Kenya in Nairobi the following day.

The ideal situation is for Guinea to drop points against bottom-of-the-log Eritrea and Bafana do the job by upsetting Kenya in front of their own supporters to stay on top of the pool.

It is a bitter feeling but is still in our hands. Now we must see the character we have in the team. Can we fight? We must fight to stay where we are because we have worked hard to be here

—  Pitso Mosimane, Bafana Bafana coach

However, Mosimane backed his players to turn it around because they have been in these tricky situations, where they had performed with their backs against the wall.

“I think we want to qualify the hard way, but for me the key is to stay and finish where we are on the log,” he said, calling for his players to show character.

“It is a bitter feeling but is still in our hands. Now we must see the character we have in the team. Can we fight? We must fight to stay where we are because we have worked hard to be here.”

Costly defensive lapse

Bafana looked to be on their way to a valuable three points at home but they were made to pay for a defensive mistake where Olwethu Makhanya failed to clear the ball from attacking player Ryan Ogam on the edge of the box.

“It’s sad; hence, I brought in a holding midfielder [Bathusi Aubass] to try and keep it calm a little bit. I also brought the two wingers [Tashreeq Matthews and Cassius Mailula] to run because Kenya went to 5-3-2 in the second half.

“I thought the two players on the sides worked hard on their games, and they will help Aubrey Modiba and Thabang Matuludi and also strengthen the midfield by bringing in fresh legs.

“That’s football for you, and two goals is not enough; playing good football is not enough. You need to take your chances because ball possession doesn’t win games.”

In this match, Mosimane started Makhanya and Ime Okon at central defence with Mbekezeli Mbokazi on the bench, and it remains to be seen if he is going to make any changes for the must-win clash on Tuesday.