Mosimane demands sharper finishing from South Africa against Kenya

South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane has called on his attackers to be more clinical when Bafana Bafana face Kenya in their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Bafana were held to a 2-2 draw by the Harambee Stars at Orlando Stadium on Friday, despite creating enough opportunities to win the match. Mamelodi Sundowns forward Iqraam Rayners, preferred to Lyle Foster to lead the attack, missed the clearest chances, including opportunities against Kenya goalkeeper Shikhalo Faruk.

The result kept South Africa at the top of Group D, but Guinea’s victory over Eritrea in Conakry on Thursday has reduced their advantage. Bafana have seven points from their campaign, while Guinea have six.

With three qualifiers still to play, Mosimane’s side cannot afford further mistakes. They now travel to Kenya, where Rayners and the rest of the attack will be expected to convert their chances and help South Africa remain top of the group.

Mosimane believes his players have the experience and character required to respond in Tuesday’s match.

“I think this team has got enough experience and character from the past to be able to deal with this. They have dealt with qualifying for the Fifa World Cup when three points were deducted,” he said.

“I think this team has got character, and they play well. They can be too good sometimes and too pretty, but they forgot about scoring goals even though we created chances.”

The coach said he was encouraged by the number of opportunities South Africa produced against Kenya, arguing that finishing should be easier to improve than chance creation.

“I am sad, and you can hear my voice. Do I want a team that doesn’t create chances and we hope for the best? No, I want a team that plays and creates many chances,” Mosimane said.

“Then we can work on taking the chances, unlike working on how we create the chances. The most difficult is how to play and how to create the chances.”

Mosimane said the problem was mental rather than technical, particularly when attackers were presented with one-on-one chances against the goalkeeper.

“It’s mental and never technique. When you face one vs one with the goalkeeper and we don’t take our chances, it’s very sad, but it’s part of football,” he added.

“It’s the story of football, and it’s never an easy story. If it’s easy, everyone can do it, but we move on, and we are still top of the log.”

Kenya may approach the second meeting more defensively after securing a point in Johannesburg. Mosimane noted that the Harambee Stars moved to a back five once they recognised they could hold on for a draw.

“You can say that they have nothing to lose, but you saw how they went to the back five when they realised that they can get a point.”