Former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey has explained why South Africa exited AFCON in the 2-1 loss to Cameroon in the round of 16.
South Africa’s legend Tovey was left frustrated by Bafana Bafana’s inability to make their early dominance count against Cameroon.
The former national team skipper feels the game should have been settled long before it the Indomitable Lions woke up. Tovey pointed to missed one-on-one chances as the turning point, arguing that international football punishes wastefulness.
The Durban-born icon says Bafana Bafana paid the price for not being ruthless, despite largely controlling the match.
“It is a game we should have put to bed very early on,” Tovey told FARPost. “Two one-on-one’s with the keeper, you’ve got to hit the target.
NEIL TOVEY: ‘AFCON IS NOT THE PSL’
“You score those, and you’re totally on top of the game. We were outplaying them without them hardly having a touch. You started well, moved the ball nicely around the park but don’t take the opportunity, you don’t win the game, that’s football.
“There will be moments in the game where Cameroon will get a chance, even half a chance, and they will bury it. They proved it. A loose ball fell for them in the box, and suddenly they were ahea,d but they never were in the game.
“Very disappointing, but we played well enough in the tournament. We can take a lot of positives going into the World Cup. I did not see any team that was superior to us, not even Egypt. It takes us back to the old saying, if you don’t take your chances, you will not win the game.
“We dominated games. Cameroon were never in the game, they in fact, looked mediocre. We should have taken the game by the scruff of the neck.
“You can’t waste at that level. It is international level, it is not club level. You can be the best player for Pirates, Chiefs, Sundowns or whatever, but the international level is a different kettle of fish.
“ In the PSL you get full chances, but at that international level you only get split chances. That is how we lost the game,” Tovey added.
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