Proteas crash out of Cricket World Cup
SOUTH AFRICA’S bitterly disappointing World Cup campaign came to a painful end at Lord’s yesterday.
Heading into the Pakistan clash, SA still had a slim mathematical chance of qualifying for the knockout stages if they won their three remaining matches. However, they fell at the first hurdle with a 49-run defeat to Pakistan being their fifth loss in seven matches.
It has been an insipid campaign that has been soiled with the same mistakes from start to finish. The batsmen, once again, failed to show their worth and were rolled yesterday by a rampant Pakistan attack, with the Proteas finishing on 249/9 in pursuit of the 309-run target.
“We’re not playing great cricket,” a dejected Proteas captain Faf du Plessis said. “We’re losing quick wickets almost all the time and then as we’re building partnerships we’re losing wickets. That’s just the nature of the tournament. We are struggling with a bit of confidence in our batting line-up. And that costs us 30-40 runs.
“Confidence in sport is an amazing thing. For me the biggest downside is that we’re not doing justice to ourselves as a team.
‘‘We are playing against great teams. We’ve seen how crazy it is. But we are letting ourselves down considering the skill that’s in our dressing-room.”
This World Cup has been SA’s worst statistically with the Proteas only having won one game – against Afghanistan – so far. Before yesterday, they had only once previously failed to qualify for the knockout stages of a World Cup back when SA co-hosted the tournament with Zimbabwe and Kenya in 2003.
There will undoubtedly be consequences when the players return home with both the management and Du Plessis’ position as captain set to come under scrutiny.
Coach Ottis Gibson’s contract runs until September this year, but there is every likelihood that it could be terminated by the time the World Cup runs its course.
The will also be an inevitable changing of the guard with a host of veterans set to retire.
A LAST-MINUTE own goal handed Morocco a narrow 1-0 victory over plucky Namibia team at the Africa Cup of Nations yesterday in a far-from-convincing start from one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Substitute Itamunua Keimune botched an attempted clearance and headed the ball into his own net after a free kick from Morocco midfielder Hakim Ziyech in the 89th minute of the opening Group D game at the Al Salam Stadium.
Morocco coach Herve Renard, who has won two Afcon titles, had warned that the opening game for many of the tournament favourites may be difficult and his forecast proved true as Namibia goalkeeper Lloyd Kazapua produced several key stops.
But his heroics did not extend to the last minute as Morocco took all three points in fortuitous circumstances.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s squad have apologised to their compatriots for unexpectedly losing their opening game to underrated Uganda on Saturday.
Both skipper Youssouf Mulumbu, who did not play in the 2-0 defeat, and Chancel Mbemba, who wore the captain’s armband in the game, said sorry in a recorded message that was distributed on Twitter.
“We come to you, simply to apologise. It’s true that it’s difficult but we have to,” said Mulumbu, flanked by coach Florent Ibenge and with his teammate standing behind him.
“We need unity and it’s true that today we let you down. I hope it’s a good lesson for us. We still have two games to play, we need your support and we will correct the situation very quickly.
“Today, we made a big mistake, I know it’s humiliating for the 90-million Congolese. That’s why we come back to you with sincerity and with hand on heart to apologise.”
Mbemba also expressed the same sentiments in his brief statement.
The Congolese conceded both goals at set pieces – first from a corner and then a free kick as Patrick Kaddu and Emmanuel Okwi scored in Uganda’s first win at the finals for more than 40 years.