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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana finished bottom of Group D in their 2018 Soccer World Cup qualifying campaign after a 2-1 defeat to Senegal in Dakar on Tuesday.
Sport24 rates the players.
Itumeleng Khune: 3/10
Ditched the protective mask that inspired so many memes and comparisons to comic book Superheroes but Khune's display was anything but heroic. Mzansi's number 1 made a schoolboy error in the build-up to Senegal’s opener when caught in no man’s land. He recently said he was answering the 'call from God' to serve the country, well God must be punishing us after this display.
Thamsanqa Mkhize: 4/10
Never looked comfortable on the ball and struggled somewhat defensively in a defence that again failed to keep a clean sheet and conceded two goals.
Morgan Gould: 3/10
The 34-year-old defender often looked his age in both qualifiers against Senegal and was often exposed defensively again by the Senegal attack. Too many lapses in concentration and naïve defending.
Clayton Daniels: 5/10
Struggled to contain Senegal's attack and his attempted long balls to the diminutive Percy Tau was easily dealt with by the opposition’s defence who had a field aerially battles.
Sifiso Hlanti: 3/10
Can be a frustrating figure at left-back with poor quality in his final balls into the box while being exposed defensively. Poor in the air for such a big unit and offered little going forward.
Dean Furman: 3/10
Poor on the ball with a limited passing range and totally outnumbered and out-muscled in the midfield battle. Seemed to run out of steam in the second half in another unconvincing display.
Bongani Zungu: 4/10
Patchy display and gave possession away too easily. Dominated in midfield by the home side and failed to dictate the tempo of the game.
Themba Zwane: 3/10
Zwane’s lacklustre penalty miss pretty much summed up this game and Bafana's qualifying campaign when he tried to watch which way the keeper went before rolling the ball into the net. But the Sundowns winger horribly scuffed his shot wide. For any youngsters watching - this would be an example of how NOT to take a penalty.
Keagan Dolly: 4/10
Gave away possession too easily and has a tendency to run aimlessly across the pitch and often force attacks. Combined well with Tau on the odd occasion and never stopped trying to impact the game.
Sibusiso Vilakazi: 4/10
Comfortable in possession but not very effective creatively while struggling to make an impact against the Senegalese defence.
Percy Tau: 6/10
Again Bafana’s brightest spark going forward but struggled as a lone striker and is just not physically imposing enough for this role. Did well to create a few chances and grabbed a consolation goal combining with Dolly.
Stuart Baxter: 3/10
Got his tactics again wrong as Bafana conceded two goals on the counter while his selections can be questioned as he again named a starting line-up without a recognised striker.
