By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki says he is disappointed after he failed to take the perennial heart breakers to the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.
Ntseki’s Bafana Bafana did what they always do best – break the hearts of South African football followers after they lost 2-0 to Sudan in a crucial AFCON qualifier at the Al Hilal Stadium in Omdurman, Khartoum, on Sunday evening.
Saifeldin Bakhit and Abdel Raman’s goals sent the Sudanese to Cameroon.
“It’s a big disappointment for all of us if you look at how we started. We were very positive and were looking forward to qualifying. Drawing against Ghana at home made life difficult for us coming to Sudan,” Ntseki said.
“I think the players tried very hard. We also tried very hard to put everything together. We started on the wrong foot because we conceded very early. The idea was not to concede. It was a setback to concede two goals in the first half.”
The former Lesedifm football analyst also admitted that he disappointed the South African Football Association (SAFA), his employers.
“Not qualifying has dented our image. The expectation was for Bafana Bafana to qualify for the AFCON. As players and coaches we are very much aware of the emotional pain we caused to South Africans,” Ntseki said.
Bafana Bafana collected 10 points from the six matches they played during the qualifying campaign. They proved to be bad travellers as they lost away to both Ghana and Sudan by a 2-0 scoreline.
Minnows Sao Tome and Principe are the only opponents Bafana Bafana managed to beat twice in both matches, which were played in South Africa. The other four home points came from a win over Sudan and a draw with Ghana.
