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Cape Town - Bafana Bafana captain Siyanda Xulu says they are disappointed at the loss to Madagascar and as players they know they should have done better.
South Africa lost 4-3 on penalties to Madagascar in the quarter-final of the 2018 COSAFA Cup on Sunday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
At the end of regulation 90 minutes the two sides were deadlocked at 0-0. A penalty shoot-out was used to determine the winner, and Bafana Bafana could not get past the Malagasy.
"It was a fair game, we had some opportunities and if we had buried them we would be talking a different language now - but it’s part of the game and we all know that if you don’t convert your chances you end up losing the game.
In terms of the performance of individuals and of the team it was also fair - we should have done better, but then again you must remember we only had a few days to assemble the squad," said Xulu.
The defender said they will have to pick themselves up and face the next challenge head on. Bafana Bafana face Namibia in the plate semi-final scheduled for the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday.
"It is a huge disappointment because we really wanted to win and it’s a bit difficult for us because we are playing at home. On the other side we have another game coming up and so we have to soldier on. We have to be professionals, there is no other way we can try and change this now, whatever mistakes we did, whatever corrections we need to do we have to do it in the next match," added Xulu.
"The main prize is gone, we have to bring back our pride and we have to do that against Namibia. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for now but we have to face another challenge, so we need to soldier on."
This was Xulu’s debut match as the captain of Bafana Bafana.
Kick-off is at 17:00.
