Bafana Bafana was not brave enough against Nigeria after their 1-1 Afcon 2019 qualifying draw left their hopes of going to Cameroon in the balance.
That’s the word from coach Stuart Baxter as the team failed to create enough opportunities to beat the Super Eagles at Soccer City on Saturday, missing out on the chance to top Group E.
South Africa now need to go to Libya in March with a draw enough to book passage to the continental tournament.
And Baxter says: “I’m disappointed a little bit and I’m proud a little bit. We’ve taken four points off the Super Eagles and the only goal we’ve conceded so far in the tournament is an own goal.
“I’m disappointed that we weren’t braver, we said at halftime we give them problems when we get through and get our movements, we run people away and challenge them one on one.
“And in the second half, we started to go long. We started to go really long and that’s a sign of nerves that we don’t want to concede.”
Baxter, though, will find fingers pointed at him for perhaps not being brave enough himself.
While seeing his team let off the hook by TWO wrongly-denied offside goals, the Brit coach made only one substitution in the match when he had the chance to go for the jugular.
Thembinkosi Lorch came on for Thulani Serero on the hour mark, but Baxter left attacking options Vincent Pule and Dino Ndlovu on the bench when a little more courage would have helped snatch the three points.