By Thebe Mabanga
South Africa were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations by five-time champions Cameroon, failing to capitalise on early pressure and conceding twice from poorly defended set pieces in a 2–1 defeat.
South Africa started brightly, pinning the Indomitable Lions back, but squandered three gilt-edged chances through profligacy in front of goal.
Goals by Junior Tchamadeu against the run of play in the 34th minute, when Bafana were dominant, and teenager Christian Kofane, with a sucker punch at the start of the second half, put paid to South Africa’s ambition to improve on their third place finish two years ago.
Evidence Makgopa expertly taken goal was mere consolation.
South Africa must now regroup and prepare for the FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the United States and Canada in June.
They only have the March camp and the month or so leading up to their opening match against Mexico at the Aztec stadium, site of the 1986 World Cup final, in Mexico.
On the current evidence, they are unlikely to progress beyond the group stages.
Coach Hugo Broos has noted that he will come back and analyse their performance to make the necessary adjustments.
The first thing he will find is that Bafana’s failure was not just in tactics or personnel but also in mindset and attitude.
Broos ultra defensive line up against Cameroon was out of left field and a recent trend and experiment. He has become defensive only after qualifying for AFCON and the World Cup.
Three central defenders are complemented and protected by defensive minded wingback and two defensive midfielders, which can feel like an overkill
The omission of Aubrey Modiba, a solid performer in a shaky group stage showing, in favour of Samukele Kabini was puzzling.
Modiba came on as a substitute and provided the cross from which Makgopa, another substitute, scored.
To say Modiba should have been on much earlier is wistful conjecture.
Broos overall substitution and timing will also be questioned.
The removal of Oswin Appollis, a spark of creativity and goals throughout the tournament, will be viewed in a dim light.
Broos now also has to decide whether he has central striking options beyond Lyle Foster and Makgopa. The likes of Iqraam Rayners have to come to the reckoning, but his club form at Manelodi Sundowns has not made him an automatic choice.
Broos must now hope that key performers like Rowen Williams in goals and captain or Forster at Burnley have decent second half of the season and avoid injury.
He must also be willing, at least for the extended June camp to look at fringe players and those with South African roots who ply their trade in Europe’s fringe leagues.
He must look beyond Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates and enlist all the help he can get.
Despite this setback and recent controversy, Broos must be allowed to finish off his project, started on a five year contract taken up in May 2021.
Large and well resourced football nations like South Africa plan in four year cycles between World Cups and two Afcons in between with qualifications for these tournaments, and progress to the latter stages of Afcon the required minimum.
Bruce, with a bronze medal and now a last 16 finish and a World Cup to look forward to has delivered.
South Africa once had a masterplan that included making the quarter finals of the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar and failed to qualify for the tournament.
Broos has made South Africa to dream again only to be let down by key decisions at crucial moments.
How he finishes his tenure will determine whether his assistant Helman Mkhalele becomes his successor, as he wishes.
Should he misfire in the United States, the South African Football Association (Safa) and fans would demand a different direction.
There is no room for errors now.
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