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Bafana Bafana players performed a victory dance, thinking they had qualified for the Afcon finals. They were only later told they had not made it.
The South African Football Association (Safa) have descended into pointless denial following Bafana Bafana’s dramatic exit from the 2012 African Nations Cup, lodging a formal protest with the Confederation of African Football (Caf).
Safa CEO Robin Petersen confirmed as much in the wake of their goalless draw with Sierra Leone on Saturday, that saw Bafana eliminated because of a lack of awareness over Caf’s regulations.
“We have already written a letter saying it is unheard of that a team that qualifies on top of the group in terms of points and goal difference should not qualify,” said Petersen at the team hotel.
The problem for Petersen, Safa, Bafana and the rest of the country is that it is heard of – it is written into Caf’s rules for 2012 African Nations Cup qualifying.
Rule 14.1 of the 2012 Nations Cup regulations, readily available on Caf’s own website, states that the first criteria for separating teams tied on points is the “greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams”.
The draw in Nelspruit, coupled with Niger’s 3-0 loss to Egypt in Cairo, meant that Group G ended with Bafana, Niger and Sierra Leone all tied on nine points. Using Caf’s criteria, the games between those teams saw Niger with six points, and Sierra Leone and Bafana with five – hence Niger qualified as group winners.
The rule blindsided South Africa’s media, coaching staff and players, who all expected the group to be decided on goal difference. As the game wore on, with Niger clearly losing in Cairo, Mosimane made some defensive substitutions to see out the draw he felt would get his side to the finals. Bafana’s players then danced with delight at the final whistle, but news soon filtered through that they all had got it horribly and painfully wrong.
There was still time for Sierra Leone’s coach Lars Olof Mattsson, to mistakenly congratulate Bafana at the post-match press conference, while Mosimane wore the bewildered look that spoke of a man that had just had a dream swept from underneath him.
“If I ask you to put the points together and put a team on top of the table, what are you going to do?” he said.
“Put Bafana second to Niger, with a better goal difference?”
“When you know Niger are losing 3-0 (in Cairo) and you are equal on points and have a better goal difference, it affects the substitutions.
“We played to qualify and we deserve to be in the Nations Cup.
“I am confused. I don’t feel good. I would have given it a go in the second half. Why would I keep Majoro and Mokoena on the bench and keep Khuboni and Jali on? It doesn’t make sense.”
It is impossible to say what would have happened had Bafana not played for the draw. The fact is they had not exactly pummelled the Leone Stars rearguard before Mosimane went defensive. In the first half, despite getting into some promising positions, their final pass left plenty to be desired.
After the break, Siphiwe Tshabalala wasted the country’s best chance to win, curling wide from the edge of the box. South Africa have still to score against Sierra Leone in four Nations Cup qualifying matches.
It is this lack of firepower that should concern Mosimane and Bafana far more than any rule.
THE RULES
Article 14 of the 2012 African Nations Cup regulations:
In case of equality of points between two or more teams, after all the group matches, the ranking of the teams shall be established according to the following criteria:
14.1 Greater number of points obtained in the matches between the concerned teams;
14.2 Best goal difference in the matches between the concerned teams
14.3 Greater number of goals scored in the group matches between the concerned teams
14.4 Greater number of away goals scored in the direct matches between the concerned teams
14.5 Goal difference in all the group matches
14.6 Greatest number of goals scored in all the group matches
14.7 A drawing of lots by the Organising Committee of Caf
Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone all finished tied on nine points in Group G. As per rule 14.1, Niger beat both South Africa and Sierra Leone once, leaving them with six points, while South Africa and Sierra Leone beat Niger once, but drew twice with each other, leaving them with five points. Thus Niger progress as group winners to the 2012 Nations Cup finals.
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SGAYOYO, wrote
it really touch me if i would say it in unprofetional way.i was going to say it little beat unfair and unprofetional. but i say it in the profetional way rule is rule like it or you do not you must obey it as we are all equal before it.
Curvacious , wrote
pete, wrote
What a sorry spectacle. Nematandani should resign, Mosimane should be sacked, and Khune should be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. And the players should hang their heads in shame. Since when do you play in a tournament and not know the rules? Take some responsibility, madoda!
ikes, wrote
After what we as a country have been through this weekend all i can say is 'may God bless South Africa a and no place else... gnyt
ikes, wrote
Im so peed off with the whole soccer fraternity and their ignorance of the rules i don't know what to say. Pitso says he thought if we drew we qualify.. yet when interviewd immediatly after the game he asked the question 'did we qualify , are we through,, what did caf say ... unquote. Now if he did'nt know the rules why would he be unsure coz he definately was'nt celebrating.... i give up truely i rather support squash or hopskotch bafana has made me grey now
Mphumzi Mpepo, wrote
It is lesson to South African Football Association to go through the rules of the game in future.
ikes, wrote
iso wish i was 50 years younger so that i could show our current bafana players wut commitment is all about, what dying for your country is all about, what it means to don the bafana jersey should mean, even when the odds are stacked against us, remember the story of king Chaka how he and his soldiers went to war with the british armed with only spears against guns, now we not asking for that type of suicidle commitment but hells bells 'looking for lucks and favours from egypt in our own backyard is not ayoba
Richard, wrote
South Africa, dont despair the cup will be brought to you in 2013. What you need to do is to start preparing now. Egypt will be a major threat because they are using their U23 team as a senior national team. You have learned your lesson. Pick yourselves up and dust yourselves to hit the road. Stop cursing the coach his human just like anybody else. He is capable of delivering for the beautiful rainbow country. From now on you should'nt underesti mate countries because of their positions in the rankings. The only country which you feard in your group was Egypt. Keep Pitso, have faith in him because he is a man hungry for success. Of course he is earning a lot of money because i think this job comes with a lot of stress. Some people right now are calling him a fool, an idiot, stupid etc. Imagine given the task of protecting a country with a population of 50 million. Hold hands and sing shosholoza and be proud of your heritage. Lets all support the representives of SADC. Go Chipolopolo and the Zebras.
ikes, wrote
Once again we have failed, failed to qualify, failed to score, failed to impress. Who's to blame.... pitso if he had any brains would do the same that peter d villiers did... resign coz believe me we gonna be watching the swc in brazil as spectators. let him carry on with his favourite players.(shabalala and co)
Mox, wrote
This is rediculus, those who dont undeerstand the rule it states that if teams have equality on points, the team that proceed here will be the one that acumulated more points on the concerned teams. in this group there 3 teams being SA, Niger & Siara Lione. Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone all finished tied on nine points in Group G. As per rule 14.1, Niger beat both South Africa and Sierra Leone once, leaving them with six points, while South Africa and Sierra Leone beat Niger once, but drew twice with each other, leaving them with five points. Thus Niger progress as group winners to the 2012 Nations Cup finals. So its simple its three team we should reinforced to score a goal than defending a draw
Themba, wrote
Anonymous: The rule was on CAF's website. SAFA employs people for different things, why should they expect CAF to do research for them? Any coach and team manager worth their salt would check these things unfront, before making such a stupid blunder. In fact, Nigeria finished with a better goal difference against Angola for the World Cup 2006 qualifiers, but because their head to head was in favour of Angola, Angola qualified instead of Nigeria. In fact, Nigeria considered this scenario before their last qualifying game as a win would have put them in a similar situation. It is therefore idiotic and ridiculous to blame CAF over a mistake made by SAFA. The rule exists and it existed before this competition. SAFA should withdraw this appeal before they embarrass us.
webster mwila, wrote
sorry guys .lets go back to the drawing board for concetration on anything soccer is iteligence . how do you driblle if you cant aticulate sensebly?
Surfer, wrote
Well done to Khune - for wasting time and preventing Bafana from scoring - and Pitso - for not knowing your output targets because you do not know the rules. Both being paid well as national sports persons. So what now? Discipline? Who cares as the performance of Bafana is not for the fans. Empty stands. Now at least there is awareness of the value of some basic sportmanship and education literacy skills. Play to win and please read the rules! I cannot believe that national colours are awarded to teams who is oblivious to these two principles.
Anonymous, wrote
This confirms the belief that "certain nations do not read". How can people ignore the rules for a big game like this, the whole country, the coach,SAFA,media, supporters and players. The team was just playing aimlessly. They did not have the objectives right and they took the journey to the wrong direction. They arrived, but at the wrong place. I am dissappointed with all of us.
sbonelo, wrote
south africans plz 4get about the fertile rule,ihave a reason of that point y bafana didnot won the game a special at home that all.
gamsekind, wrote
Bafana Bafana should really get a new name....how about Madala Madala..seeing they can't read...HaHaHaHa...
Anonymous, wrote
Brothers and sisters lets stop blaming Pitso. why CAF didn't tell us about before game start that what will happen if Bafanabafa got draw. That is a useless rule ever. Other continents will gona laugh when the hear that supid rule. why CAF rules are differ UERO rules? that why the African football is not growing. nx! * angry*
AFRICA, wrote
The starting point is always goal difference between the tied teams, then if goals are also the same the matches between themselves will determine who progresses. This is ridiculous. You go anywhere in the world that is how a progressing team is decided.
Tibla, wrote
first we fail to play footbal in our own backyard, then we stupidly forget to read the rules governing the draw, because even if mosimane knew of the results in cairo, he should have double checked the rules governing draws instead of assuming the obvious. more than anything the countyr does not deserve this treatment but the entire safa, the coach and the stupid, lazy, overpayed and overstated players desrve all of it. it is a pity they played as sa otherwise we should disown them firstly for playing the way they did and secondly for ignorance, Sies man
Anonymous, wrote
Lack of Education is the key to failure... Safa staff should have known about the rules. There is no need to blame CAF because we did not win....
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