Percy Tau on penalty miss in AFCON loss vs. Mali

Under pressure to secure two wins, Bafana Bafana striker Percy Tau says he is still hurt after missing a penalty against Mali in an AFCON opener.

Tau was key for Bafana as they faced the Malians on Tuesday but missing a penalty in the opening half still hurts him.

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Coach Hugo Broos’ Bafana received a penalty when striker Evidence Makgopa was elbowed in the box, Tau stepped up but failed to convert.

In his emotional reaction, the Al Ahly hitman, Tau says Bafana didn’t aim to start their AFCON Group E campaign with a 2-0 loss.

HURT PERCY TAU ON PENALTY MISS IN AFCON LOSS VS. MALI

Additionally, Tau says they still have six points to fight for in their AFCON matches against Namibia and Tunisia – it’s two must-win games for Bafana.

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“This is not the start we wanted but then now we just have to regroup and go again against Namibia,” Bafana striker Tau says per SABC Sport.

“We know it’s gonna be a difficult one again also but then it just hurts right now.

“I mean, we should have scored a goal, I missed a penalty then it gave them the confidence to keep going.

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“If we scored a goal, it was gonna be a better game and it was gonna change the game entirely but a missed penalty is not nice.

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“We still have six points to play for and ya, we’ll give our best, we want to go through.”

BAFANA DEFENDER XULU ON HOW THEY LOST TO MALI

Tau’s Bafana teammate and defender, Siyanda Xulu adds that the loss is a bitter pill to swallows and believes they were physically disadvantaged versus the Eagles.

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Broos and his Bafana troops will now turn their focus to neighbours, Namibia whom they lock horns with on Sunday.

“I think most of the battles they did win it because they are a very physical side but it’s something that they knew very well that we can never try and compete physically with them,” Xulu adds.

“That’s why we were trying to move the ball as quickly as we can because strength is one of the factors that they have as a country.”