2019 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying: South Africa under-fire after seychelles draw

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Europe

02:14

In football news, South Africa returned home to a barrage of questions after their goalless draw against Seychelles in the 2019 Africa cup of nations qualifiers. Bafana Bafana have been accused of complacency following their 6-nil drubbing of the same side in the first leg. CGTN's Sias du Plessis has more.

Stuart Baxter was adamant that his players had prepared properly for the Group E encounter and that their attitude toward the crucial match was correct, the national coach had to swat off the same questions he has faced on numerous occasions as the media probed the Englishman for answers.

STUART BAXTER SOUTH AFRICA COACH "I don't think the boys were complacent, honestly I don't think they were I think they were ready for it I think it was very frustrating, very difficult they kept going and we just didn't have enough quality on that pitch at the right times, if we had we'd have won the game."

National captain, Thulani Hlatshwayo said the responsibility was on the players to turn things around with less than a month until their clash against Nigeria at the FNB Stadium and believes the blame should not fall at the coach's doorstep.

THULANI HLATSHWAYO SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN "Obviously we need to take our chances because when we take our chances it makes the job easier, us as players need to take responsibility of what is happening, the coach is there giving us the tactics, give us the game plan, we are the ones who are playing on the field, we need to do the right things on the field."

Baxter feels that the challenges in African football have played a part in his team's struggles, but acknowledges that they will need to be prepared for anything if they are to stake a claim for a place at Africa Cup of Nations in less than a year's time.

STUART BAXTER SOUTH AFRICA COACH "I have to say again, my frustration lies mainly in the fact that, I don't want to say this is Africa, but I mean the referee and the pitches and the filming of the injuries, I mean it is a very difficult challenge."

SIAS DU PLESSIS JOHANNESBURG "Bafana have made life very difficult for themselves with the goalless draw with the Islanders, the two matches against Nigeria here at home and away to Libya are now even more important, it means they will have to win one of those matches to stand any chance of qualifying for AFCON next year, Sias du Plessis, CGTN, Johannesburg."