South Africa Under-23 coach, David Notoane, is in doubt that his team is capable of getting the results to beat Congo Brazzaville and qualify for the Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations.
Notoane’s side came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Congo in the Caf Under-23 Olympic qualifiers.
Speaking to SABC Sports after the match, Notoane, also acknowledged his team’s mistakes at Dobsonville Stadium.
“It was a very difficult game against a very aggressive team,” Notoane said during a post-match interview. “But once we started to put the ball down and find passes in the pockets, we were giving them problems.
But we lacked a little bit of experience, maturity and the tactical finesse to find the right final pass and right movement to penetrate them. But they are young guys.
I’m happy that we didn’t lose, which is very important that we have a 1-1 draw. But I think we are capable of going away and get the results. The way we conceded, I’m very disappointed because it was a lapse in concentration moment.
“We have two big boys and the striker is in between them, we didn’t stop the cross from coming through which is something that we knew was going to happen. So not a bad result but a difficult situation. But we are capable of going out there and get the results.”
The return leg will take place on Monday, 27 March 2023 at Massamba-Debat Stadium and the winner will qualify for the Under-23 Afcon to be held in Morocco.
“We could also see in terms of intensity and physicality of the game some players struggled a little bit. [Samkwelo] Zwane, Kgaugelo [Chauke] coming in didn’t show the energy that we would have wanted on the ball and show his quality.
“But we thought, let’s give him a test and see how he copes with the physicality of Congo. The skills are there, the football intelligence is there but I think it’s going to require a little bit more than technical ability.”
By Zola Doda