Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has expressed frustration with his team’s inability to convert scoring opportunities after South Africa were held to a 2-2 draw by Kenya in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier at the Orlando Amstel Arena.
Despite taking the lead twice, South Africa failed to secure all three points after Kenya’s Ryan Ogam scored a late equaliser. The result has once again raised questions about Bafana’s finishing, with Mosimane pointing to missed chances as a recurring problem.
The draw leaves South Africa at the top of their qualifying group, but the team still has work to do, with three matches remaining in their campaign.
Mosimane Says Taking Chances Matters More Than Possession
Reflecting on the result after the match, Mosimane explained that controlling possession and creating scoring opportunities mean very little if a team cannot turn those chances into goals.
The Bafana coach acknowledged that Kenya were more clinical, making the most of the opportunities that came their way despite not needing many chances to trouble South Africa.
“There is so much to take out of this game, right? So many situations came out of this game. But football tells you that it’s not about ball possession and it’s not about how many chances you create. It’s about how many chances you take, and Kenya showed that. They don’t need much to cause an upset on us, and the few chances they had, they used them,” he said.
His comments highlight a major concern for the technical team: South Africa need to become more decisive in front of goal if they are to compete consistently at the highest level.
‘Same Old Story’ as Bafana Struggle With Finishing
Mosimane also admitted that Bafana Bafana’s wastefulness in front of goal is not a new issue.
“I got reminded that in South Africa, we miss so many chances,” he added.
The remark reflects the coach’s concern about a problem that continues to affect the team’s ability to turn promising performances into victories.
Against Kenya, South Africa had opportunities to strengthen their advantage, but their failure to make those chances count allowed the visitors to remain in the contest.
Kenya eventually punished the hosts late in the game, with Ogam’s 89th-minute goal securing a share of the points.
Bafana Bafana Turn Attention to Kenya Return Fixture
South Africa will have an immediate opportunity to respond when they travel to face Kenya in the return fixture on Tuesday.
The encounter will be important for Mosimane’s side as they look to protect their position in the qualifying group and move closer to securing a place at the 2027 AFCON tournament.
With three qualifying matches still to play, Bafana cannot afford to keep dropping points through missed opportunities.
For Mosimane, improving the team’s finishing will be a key priority ahead of the next match. South Africa have shown that they can create chances, but converting them consistently could make the difference between qualification success and another frustrating campaign.
Do you agree with Pitso Mosimane? Is poor finishing Bafana Bafana’s biggest problem?
