Former Bafana Bafana star Bongani Khumalo has flagged a defensive blemish that the national team must address before their high-stakes encounter with Egypt, warning that such lapses could prove costly against the North Africans.
While South Africa currently sits at the summit of Group B following a gritty 2-1 victory over Angola on Monday, Khumalo warned that the lapse in concentration that led to the Palancas Negras’ goal could be fatal against Egypt.
Spearheaded by Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, Egypt’s frontline presents a daunting challenge. With the added creative firepower of Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’, Trezeguet, and the presence of Mostafa Mohamed, the Bafana Bafana backline faces a true litmus test of their defensive credentials.
As such, Khumalo, who represented South Africa at the 2010 World Cup and spent time in the English Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, pointed specifically to an organisational breakdown during a dead-ball situation in the Angola encounter.
Against Angola, the central defensive pairing of Siyabonga Ngezana and Mbekezeli Mbokazi struggled with marking during a set-piece, an error Khumalo believes elite opposition will exploit.
KHUMALO ISSUES DEFENSIVE WARNING TO BAFANA AHEAD OF EGYPT SHOWDOWN
At the heart of Khumalo’s concern is Bafana’s vulnerability at set-pieces. He argued that the goal surrendered against Angola wasn’t just a fluke, but a red flag regarding the defensive organization of Siyabonga Ngezana and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who struggled to anchor the backline effectively under pressure.”
“It was a great start to the tournament, but the one blemish is that we conceded from a defensive lapse, through a set piece, that is an organisational challenge which can be dealt with” said Khumalo.
“The most improtant thing in tournament football is to get your points. Problems will be solved as you go but when you are winning you have got less problems, let’s be honest, where optics are concerned.
“So we got the result in the first game and there where no glaring mistakes or opportunities that were created that exposed the defence, not tor apart. That is encouraging espeicalluy concerning the difficult arrival and set up to get to camp, to land two days before a major fixture and peformance like that, that is tougt Respect to every player and everyone involved.
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