Six goals on Saturday, but zero on Tuesday. That was the lot of a wasteful Bafana Bafana as they shot blanks and were held to a goalless draw by part-timers Seychelles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Tuesday.
The South Africans should feel embarrassed after this lacklustre display against the Indian Ocean islanders.
Once again, a minnow football nation have been able to keep Bafana at bay, after they were warned by coach Stuart Baxter that it won’t be as easy as the 6-0 drubbing handed out at the FNB Stadium at the weekend.
Chance after chance came Bafana’s way on Tuesday, but they just couldn’t find the back of the net on the artificial pitch, and ended up with a result that was worse than previous 0-0 draws with The Gambia and Mauritania.
New starter Dino Ndlovu, brought in for Aubrey Modiba, started the rot as he had a free header in the 10th minute from a Kamohelo Mokotjo assist, but the Chinese-based player headed the ball across the box instead of going for goal.
Ndlovu went close again about 13 minutes later, and this time his header deflected off a Seychelles defender over the crossbar, with another shot and header missing the mark later in the first half.
Bafana lacked urgency in their attacking play, and even when they got into the final-third, they weren’t ruthless enough.
The best chance of the game probably fell to substitute Modiba in the 69th minute, when a wonderful through-ball by Percy Tau found him in space.
But Modiba didn’t even force the Seychelles goalkeeper Jerome Dingwall to make a save as his weaker right foot pushed the ball wide.
There was nearly a catastrophe for Bafana a few minutes later, when Itumeleng Khune came way out to the edge of the box, and the shot by Helton Monnaie just rolled past the upright.
The South Africans pushed forward in the last 15 minutes again, and Dean Furman’s left-footed shot was kept out by Dingwall once more.
Baxter cut a frustrated figure on the sidelines, and will wonder how his team didn’t win a game that they totally dominated, even if Bafana are still in a good position in terms of qualifying for the 2019 Afcon.
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