South Africa football coach Molefi Ntseki has been sacked after Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Ntseki was given the sack after failing to get his team over the line in Group C after being in a comfortable position to qualify after 4 games.
However, a disappointing end to the final two qualifying games cost Bafana Bafana after they drew 1-1 at home to Ghana and then lost the all-important game in Sudan 2-0 that saw the Falcons of Jediane leapfrog the South Africans to go through to the AFCON finals.
After the draw against the Black Stars, they only needed to avoid defeat against Sudan but failed to do so. It is a little unfortunate for Bafana Bafana and Ntseki as they were the only team to get to double digits in points and not qualify for the finals.
It is usually said that in a group of 4, 10 points are enough to see you through but it was not to be this time.
In the aftermath, Ntseki admitted that he was “very much aware of the emotional pain we have caused all South Africans.”
The sacking does not come as much of a surprise really but you cannot help but feel for the former coach as 10 points was far from a dismal showing in a group that featured one of the heavyweights in world football – Ghana and a Sudan side that has never looked so good.
Pitso Mosimane has been heavily linked with taking over as head coach but reports suggest that the Al Ahly boss will turn down the offer as he is more than happy coaching the Egyptian champions who won the treble last season and will try to repeat the same feat this year as well.
