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Lack of goals is Bafana's problem, says Zungu

Cape Town - Bongani Zungu believes that Bafana Bafana have a problem with scoring goals after suffering a 2-1 defeat against Senegal in their final 2018 Soccer World Cup qualifier.

READ: Player ratings: Bafana slated

The midfielder, who started alongside Dean Furman, believes that despite South Africa having the talent to compete with the best they have a serious issue with putting the ball behind the net.

“We just don't score; the most important thing is to put the ball into the net," said Zungu as quoted by KickOff website.

“I think we have very good players, we play very well. I think there were times, especially in tonight's game where we move the ball very well; we just have to put the ball into the net.

“We had easy chances to score but that is football; if you don't take chances your opponent will take chances. I think the team is growing very well, we just have to use our chances.”

Opa Nguette punished Bafana Bafana early in the second-half after a goalless first stanza at the Stade Leopold Sedar Sengho in Dakar.

The 23-year-old lobbed the ball over Itumeleng Khune and his back four after the goalkeeper left his box to attempt to clear the danger but the strange pursuit backfired.

Minutes later South Africa were awarded a penalty after Themba Zwane was brought down - the Mamelodi Sundowns winger was confident enough to step up to take the spot kick himself only to see his lackadaisical strike of the ball go well wide of the target.

Bafana lelleved matters through Percy Tau after Khune’s quick thinking released Keagan Dolly into a counter attack and the former Sundowns winger played the ball through to his former club team-mate, who made no mistake with his finish.

Sibusiso Vilakazi as well as Dolly had chances to put South Africa ahead while Clayton Daniels’ free header at goal was caught safely in the hands of Alfred Gomis.

With 30 seconds on the clock, Bafana looked to have secured a well deserved draw only for a lack of concentration to come between them and an away point.

Kara Mbodji sealed the win with a powerful header that wrong-footed Khune.  

"Of course it's very disappointing that we didn't qualify. I think we should have won the second game, we didn't take our chances,” Zungu continued.

“That is football for you. We are very disappointed. I'm sure the nation is disappointed in us but it's football.

“We have to pick our heads up and hopefully we do well in the AFCON next year. We have to keep our heads up and look forward to the future.”

The defeat against the Lions of Teranga left Bafana Bafana ending their qualifying campaign at the bottom of Group D.

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