NATIONAL NEWS - Coach Shakes Mashaba refused to blame Itumeleng Khune after his horrendous blunder sent Bafana Bafana on their way to a humiliating 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat against Mauritania on Saturday night.
A glum Mashaba returned home from Nouakchott with his side lunchtime on Sunday, also admitting that this 3-1 defeat was the worst Bafana performance for some time, and one that puts their chances of qualifying for Gabon 2017 in serious jeopardy.
South Africa have just one point from their opening two Group M matches, not exactly an ideal platform for home and away games against group favourites Cameroon in March.
The Mauritania game got off to the worst possible start for Bafana at the Stade Olympique as the usually reliable Khune inexplicably dropped a tame Ali Abeid free- kick into his own net.
READ: Khune – I should have done better
Bafana leftback Siyabonga Zulu was then sent off just after halftime, and while Bafana did manage to equalise through Thamsanqa Gabuza, fine individual goals from Babacar Bagili and Khalil Moulaye Ahmed gave Corentin Martins’ side a stunning win.
