Tau on Ivory Coast performance: 'I was just not in the match'

Cape Town - Star forward Percy Tau admits that Bafana Bafana did not click as a unit in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations opening clash against Ivory Coast.

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South Africa suffered a 1-0 defeat to the West Africans which leaves Stuart Baxter’s charges in a must-win situation on Friday against Namibia.

Despite the loss, Tau is confident that Bafana Bafana can improve as the tournament progresses.

"If we got our touches in the attack, it could have been better, but we could not do that," he said as quoted by the official SAFA website.

"We could not get into the game; this was our first game and I think we will improve in the second game. There will be lots of improvement for the team and myself also."

The tearaway striker believes that he was not at his usual best, something he hopes to rectify in the coming match against Namibia.

"We are excited to play against Namibia, just as much as they always love to play against us," Tau said.

"We are really looking forward to the match, play our own game and see what we need to attack and to defend better as a team. It will be a nice challenge to play against Namibia."  

Tau added: "I was just not in the match as much as I would have wanted, and I don’t think they were too physical to influence my game because that is what we expected.

"The imposing figures didn’t play a role at all. We just didn’t play to our full potential.

"If we had gotten our plans right, it was going to be a different ball game altogether.

"The match against Namibia definitely becomes a must-win now and we must not even think of Morocco," he concluded.

Kick-off is at 22:00 (SA time).