Big chance missed to humble Super Eagles

There is nothing more disappointing than losing a penalty shoot-out in a big game while some of your best players fail to step up. Penalties are by nature a lottery and they can go either way. However, if you had to gamble, it’s always better to put your best foot forward.

South Africa is still reeling from Bafana Bafana’s 4-2 penalty defeat to their biggest rivals Nigeria in Wednesday’s semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in the Ivory Coast.

Bafana put up a gallant effort to come back from a goal down to force the game into extra-time and they deserve some praise for representing the country with pride and reaching the last-four for the first time in 24 years.

Now that the dust has somewhat settled, it’s worth pointing out that Bafana didn’t give themselves the best possible chance of reaching the final when it came to the dreaded spot kicks in my opinion.

After Percy Tau missed a penalty in open play against Mali when it looked like Teboho Mokoena was initially going to take it, Hugo Broos said that his three main kickers from 12 yards out were Tau, Mokoena and Aubrey Modiba. He added that it’s up to whoever feels more confident during the game that will take the penalty.

That statement was alarming for me and that is something that I raised in my previous column.

My argument was that there must be a hierarchy when it comes to penalties, just like in any other top team in the world so that roles are clear and there’s no confusion.

It also shows proper planning and a well-defined structure. Against Nigeria, I expected Bafana’s first three penalties to come from Mokoena, Tau and Modiba.

Credit to Mokoena for taking the first kick even though he missed, it happens to the best players in the world, but where was Tau and Modiba in that equation. This was a crucial match for Bafana, who were looking to qualify for their first final since 1996 where they won it on home soil.

Bafana gambled and they ultimately paid the penalty in a game they should have won. I fail to understand why Tau didn’t step up, he is after all the reigning Caf Inter-Club Player-of-the-Year.

He has taken penalties for

Al-Ahly when the stakes were high and the 29-year-old should have come to his country’s rescue at an important time.

All said and done, this has been a successful Afcon tournament for Bafana no matter what happens in the third place play-off match against the Democratic Republic of Congo tonight.

One can only hope the team grows stronger from this campaign but I think we can all agree that this was an opportunity missed to humble the Super Eagles.

Small margins were always going to decide the match and Nigeria looked like they just knew better what to do in the shoot-out.