Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane has questioned his players’ finishing after South Africa were held to a 2-2 draw by Kenya at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Friday.
South Africa had the opportunity to secure another victory under Mosimane, but missed chances proved costly as Kenya capitalised on their opportunities to leave Johannesburg with a point.
The result ended Mosimane’s winning start as Bafana coach and left the team with plenty to address before Tuesday’s return fixture in Nairobi.
Mosimane Blames Poor Finishing for Dropped Points
Bafana created several promising scoring opportunities, with Iqraam Rayners and Tshepang Moremi among those who failed to convert chances inside the penalty area.
Despite enjoying attacking moments, South Africa could not turn their dominance into enough goals. Kenya, meanwhile, made better use of their limited opportunities.
Mosimane believes the difference between the two sides came down to their ability to finish.
“Football tells you that it is not about ball possession, it is not about how many chances you create, it is about the chances you take,” the Bafana coach said, according to SAFA.
He added that Kenya were effective despite creating fewer opportunities, while South Africa wasted several clear chances.
“Kenya showed that they did not need much to cause an upset. The few chances they got, they used them. If you want to see how many chances we missed, it was a series.”
The coach’s comments put the spotlight on Bafana’s attacking players, who will be expected to show greater composure in front of goal when the teams meet again.
Benni McCarthy Believes the Draw Was Fair
Kenya head coach Benni McCarthy was satisfied with the result, arguing that both teams had enough opportunities to claim all three points.
The former Bafana Bafana striker also praised the goalkeepers for their contributions, suggesting that neither side could feel particularly unlucky about the outcome.
“In the end, I think it was a deserved draw for both teams. Whoever would have won this game, I do not think that people would have been angry or say one team was lucky,” McCarthy said.
“Over 90 minutes, both teams had their moments, both goalkeepers performed and kept their teams in the game.”
McCarthy’s assessment reflects an entertaining contest in which both teams had opportunities to influence the final result.
Bafana Face Important Test in Nairobi
The draw leaves South Africa top of Group D, but their advantage over Kenya has been reduced to just one point.
The two teams will meet again on Tuesday at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, where Bafana will be under pressure to deliver a stronger performance.
Mosimane will want his forwards to be more clinical, particularly after the number of opportunities wasted in Johannesburg. The defence will also need to remain alert against a Kenyan side that has demonstrated its ability to punish mistakes.
With the Group D race becoming tighter, Bafana cannot afford another disappointing result. The return fixture will provide Mosimane with an opportunity to see whether his players can respond to his criticism and turn their chances into goals.
