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Percy Tau all but accepted responsibility for Bafana Bafana’s defeat to Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast on Tuesday.
Tau missed a penalty for South Africa in the first half before Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoko scored in the second to give Mali a 2-0 win.
What Percy Tau said
“This is not the start we wanted,” said Tau.
“If we scored a goal, if we scored the penalty, it could have changed the game. But then we missed it. So, we prolonged the game. If we scored, it was going to change the game.
“We should have scored a goal. I missed a penalty, which gave them the confidence to keep going. If we scored a goal, it would be a better game, it would change the game entirely.”
South Africa’s next AFCON fixture will be against Namibia on Sunday. Namibia beat Tunisia 1-0 on Tuesday.
“I’ll try and gather myself because we still have two games to play. I still have hope that we will progress, even though it hurts right now,” added Tau.
“We just have to regroup and go again against Namibia. We know it’s going to be a difficult one again also.”
Hugo Broos comments on defeat
Meanwhile, coach Hugo Broos congratulated Bafana Bafana despite Tuesday’s defeat.
“I have to congratulate my team for the performance of today,” said Broos.
“I think we lose the game in two facts – first is missing the penalty, secondly is the physical power, especially in the second half from Mali.
“Those reasons make us lose the game today but the performance of South Africa was good and I think if we scored the penalty the game should be different.”
In Tuesday’s other AFCON fixtures, Burkina Faso beat Mauritania 1-0 and Namibia beat Tunisia 1-0.
On Wednesday, Morocco will play Tanzania and Egypt will meet Ghana.
Egypt are the most successful team in the history of the tournament with seven titles. Senegal are the reigning champions.
South Africa have not won the tournament since 1996. They were runners-up in 1998.
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