Bafana Bafana legend Doctor Khumalo wasn’t happy with SA’s U23 side and warned David Notoane’s men that they will find it even harder in Congo Brazzaville, with only one player impressing him.
South Africa salvaged a draw in the second half after Congo had taken the lead just before the half-time break thanks to a goal by Thapelo Maseko.
Khumalo wasn’t too impressed with Notoane’s men and insisted Congo didn’t even have to do much to get a crucial result away from home.
“If I can talk about their display, they disguised their play, they didn’t want to show us what they made of it, they just came here with the basics,” said Khumalo on SABC1 after the game.
“It was one-touch, two-touch. Where it’s needed to reinforce in terms of defence, where it’s needed for us to go forward, they did that. But they will be a different outfit away in Brazzaville.
“Why? [they will be playing at] home. The heat and the supporters [will favour them]. What I saw today I cannot even single one player out that had a ‘wow factor,’ dangerous and the player we should be worried about, no.
“For my observation, I think they disguised their play. Because when you look at their physique, this is what they are applying. But we didn’t have a response on how to counter that, this kind of a team.”
The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder, though, praised goalscorer Maseko, but insisted there were many other issues in Notoane’s team.
“The goal scorer, Maseko, he is the only player that makes us tick,” he added.
“The social factor at the back, is not 100% concrete in terms of understanding, feeling each other. But there are so many coaching points that are out there.
“On a positive side, at least we scored. But these are not the results we want.”
The winner in this tie at Massamba-Debat Stadium on Monday will qualify for the AFCON U23 that will be hosted by Morocco between 24 June and 8 July 2023, while Congo would also go through with a goalless draw.
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The top three teams of this edition of the tournament will qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympic men’s football tournament in Paris, while the 4th-placed team will be involved in playoffs against a nation from Asia to decide the final slot at the Olympics.
