Bafana Bafana captain disappointed at early AFCON exit
Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams says he is disappointed that the team failed to reach its objectives at the Africa Cup of Nations.
A 2-1 defeat against Cameroon in Rabat on Sunday ended Bafana Bafana's campaign in the first knockout round, two years after they finished third at the last AFCON in the Ivory Coast.
The South Africans qualified from their group in second place behind Egypt, claiming narrow and unconvincing wins against Angola and Zimbabwe, either side of a defeat against the Pharaohs.
Williams admitted that they did not play to the best of their ability, which is something they need to rectify heading into the World Cup.
”There are a lot of lessons to take, and we as a team need to sit down and have a discussion so we don’t make the same mistakes. We’ve come a long way as a team; we’ve done extremely well, but this was the real test now.
“Honestly speaking, we know we should be better; we can be better. We’ve proved over the last few years, but we go back to the drawing board, and we go again.”
At the same time, Bafana coach Hugo Broos struck a defiant tone, insisting fortune had not favoured his team against Cameroon.
"We don't go backwards -- maybe in some games performances were not at the level of South Africa that everyone knows, but you can't say that for today," the veteran Belgian coach said.
Bafana qualified from their group in second place behind Egypt, claiming narrow and unconvincing wins against Angola and Zimbabwe, either side of a defeat against the Pharaohs.
"Sometimes you need luck on your side, and two years ago in the quarter-final against Cape Verde, Ronwen Williams made a big save; otherwise, we could have lost that game," Broos added.
South Africa qualified for the World Cup for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010.
They topped their qualifying section ahead of Nigeria and will face co-hosts Mexico in the opening game on June 11 before also taking on South Korea and a European play-off winner in the group phase.
Their next matches will be friendly games in March as they step up preparations for the finals in North America.
"In the next days and weeks, we will make an evaluation in detail on what was good and not good, and we will see what we have to change because the World Cup is in six months and we need to be ready for that," Broos said.
"We will see that we are ready in March to play those friendlies and be well prepared for the World Cup."
