Pitso Mosimane Singles Out 2 Bafana Bafana Stars for Praise After Performance Against Guinea
- Pitso Mosimane was pleased with what he saw from Bafana Bafana during their opening AFCON qualifier, but two players stood out
- Bafana Bafana secured an important victory against Guinea, with Pitso Mosimane highlighting performances that could shape his plans
- The Guinea clash gave Pitso Mosimane plenty to assess as he begins his second spell in charge of Bafana Bafana
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South Africa’s 2-1 victory over Guinea gave Pitso Mosimane plenty to assess on his return to the Bafana Bafana dugout, but two players stood out for the coach. Olwethu Makhanya and Ime Okon earned special praise after helping South Africa deal with a dangerous Guinea attack in Saturday’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
Okon also opened the scoring before Guinea equalised and Samukelo Kabini restored South Africa’s lead. The result handed Mosimane a winning start to his latest spell in charge.
Pitso Mosimane praises Makhanya and Okon
Speaking to SABC Sport after the match, Mosimane highlighted the challenge the defensive pairing faced, particularly against Guinea’s attacking options.
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“I’m also for Makhanya and you can’t play against the striker from Dortmund, so they showed quality, Ike showed quality,” Mosimane said, reported Soccer Laduma.
The coach was referring to Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, who plays for Borussia Dortmund.
Mosimane also praised Kamogelo Sebelebele, who was introduced to provide pace against Guinea’s wide players.
“Sebelebele showed he has got speed. That’s why we played him there because he is quick and the other guy is full of trickery,” he explained.
Bafana Bafana warned over missed chances
Despite the victory, Mosimane identified finishing as an area that needs attention. Bafana created opportunities during the contest but could not put the game beyond Guinea before the late winner.
“We don’t finish the chances, and you know what’s going to happen later when you play these quality teams,” Mosimane said.
“They will punish you when they get their chance.”
He also praised the team’s approach in the opening period.
“We played it well, especially in the first half. The message was there, we pressed on top, we pressed them, we stole a few balls,” Mosimane said.
Mosimane begins with important AFCON victory
Bafana Bafana will now shift their attention to Eritrea, with the next AFCON qualifier scheduled for 30 September. Mosimane’s side will then face Egypt in a friendly on 4 October.
While the 2-1 win gave the coach a positive start, there were still areas requiring attention. Okon’s contribution was particularly notable, with the defender also getting his name on the scoresheet as South Africa secured the opening victory.
Pitso Mosimane’s Bafana coaching structure adds another layer
Briefly News previously reported that Pitso Mosimane had deliberately chosen a number of part-time coaches for his latest Bafana Bafana setup, with the arrangement designed to give local coaches international exposure while allowing them to retain existing commitments.
Mosimane explained that the approach was about developing South African coaching talent rather than simply filling technical positions.
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Source: Briefly News
