Hugo Broos admits Bafana don’t have a number one penalty taker

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained why Percy Tau took the penalty instead of Teboho Mokoena following their 2-0 defeat against Mali.

Bafana missed from the spot in the first 20 minutes which ultimately saw them lose their first match of the 2023 African Cup of Nations.

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Broos’s men were given a penalty in the 18th minute but Tau missed from the penalty spot after Evidence Makgopa was elbowed inside the box.

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After the match, Hugo Broos said the team doesn’t have a number one penalty taker but has three players who are capable of taking penalties and were assigned with the task.

“There are three guys for the game, it was Aubrey [Modiba], Mokoena and Percy,” he said.

“And they decide on the pitch. It’s not up to me, the one who feels best has to take the penalty.

“I think Teboho [Tau] took this responsibility and we can’t blame him for that, certainly not because taking a penalty is not easy.

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“But it changed the game,” Broos told the media.

The Bafana coach said the missed penalty was costly but also mentioned the physicality of the Mali players.

“I have to congratulate my team for the performance of today,” Bross added.

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“I think we lose the game in two facts, first is missing the penalty. Secondly is the physical power, especially in the second half of Mali.

“Those reasons make us lose the game today but the performance of South Africa was good and I think if we scored the penalty the game should be different,” he said.

Bafana next take on Namibia on Sunday knowing a win will get them back on track.

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