- South Africa were leading 2-0 but drew 2-2 with Lesotho
- Coach Hugo Broos refused to answer questions at the press conference
- Bafana risk missing the AFCON
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos was left furious as Bafana Bafana threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 with Lesotho in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The tactician had initially refused to come for the post-match press conference, instead sending his assistant Helman Mkhalele.
However, furious South African journalists in the press conference room refused to field questions to the former Bafana Bafana winger, and demanded for the 70-year old Belgian to answer to the collapse of the team in the second half.
When the tactician finally came, he refused to field questions.
“There is so much disappointment and anger in my body. If I should say now what I think, it might not be nice. Today is very difficult,” said the tactician, as he briefly summed up his feelings from a disappointing evening.
He added; “You know that I always answer your questions even when they are difficult. But today, I hope you can understand how I feel and my anger with this match. We all saw what happened.”
A Lyle Foster brace inside the opening 25 minutes had given Bafana a good cushion over the Liberians, and they were seemingly headed for an easy win. However, they were undone by wasted chances, with Liberia staging a remarkable comeback in the second half.
Substitute Mohamed Sangare scored at the stroke of 90 minutes for the leveller, after Tonia Tisdell’s freekick had brought them within reach.
Liberia coach delighted
Liberia’s head coach Ansumana Keita was delighted with the result.
“This is my first international game as head coach of Liberia and my first huge game against a big opponent. There were a lot of critics, but now the critics are backing us,” the tactician said after masterminding the comeback.
Liberia players line up for the match. PHOTO/SAFA
He added; “It was a tough game, South Africa are a good side and play good football, but the game is about 90 minutes We were here to compete and we competed. I told my players at halftime to keep calm, focused and just go. I am happy we got the result.”
Bafana had raced to a 2-0 lead within 22 minutes. Foster broke the deadlock after nine minutes from the penalty spot after Percy tau was brought down by the keeper inside the box.
The Burnley forward doubled the tally in the 22nd minute when he sneaked in a header at the near post from a Teboho Mokoena corner. South Africa had more chances with Bongokuhle Hlongwane hitting the outside of the post one on one with the keeper, before Tau also missed a sitter.
Tau goal disallowed
South Africa thought they had a third in the 52nd minute, but tau’s freekick was cancelled as he took it direct when the referee had put his hand up for an indirect freekick.
Having dodged the bullet, Liberia put in a fight and they halved the deficit in the 68th minute when Tisdell’s freekick curled in from the left foot trickled past two Bafana defenders and the keeper.
They kept the fight and were rewarded when Sangare struck a sublime shot from range, keeper Ronwen Williams completely beaten.
Both Liberia and South Africa are on one point from two matches and with Morocco already qualified in the three-team Group K, pressure is on Bafana to battle for the single remaining slot.
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