Bafana Bafana head coach Molefi Ntseki has shared his thoughts following South Africa's exit from the African Nations Championship after a draw against Uganda.
SA bowed out of the tournament after a dramatic and controversial 3-3 draw against the Ugandan Cranes on Monday evening in the final Group C clash.
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Ntseki’s side appeared to be on course for a place in the knockout stages when they surged to a 3-1 lead with just ten minutes remaining.
Goals from Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Thabiso Kutumela, and Philip Ndlondlo had put Ntseki’s men in a commanding position, raising hopes of a place in the quarterfinals.
However, Uganda clawed their way back into the game, scoring twice in quick succession from the penalty spot to snatch a draw, a result that ultimately sent Bafana crashing out of the CHAN on goal difference.
Despite the heartbreak, Ntseki commended his players for their fighting spirit and commitment throughout the campaign.
"We made the substitutions for a reason, and even though not everyone had the chance to showcase their value, I am proud of everyone’s effort," Ntseki said, per CAF Online.
"We scored three goals, but in the end, we dropped points that were practically in our hands. They showed their commitment and understood that they were playing for their country.
"In the game of football, like I said, there are three results, a win, draw and defeat. Unfortunately, we got the result that we did not want. We wanted to win, but things did not happen for us.
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"As for the future, I think the country is very proud of their performances and we brought the best players that played very well in this tournament," he added.
"I can’t fault any of them in terms of performance and commitment. As a coach and as a member of the team that came to represent South Africa here, we are very proud of them."
