Baxter ‘needs help to pick best squad’

The best players are not being selected for national duty, former Bafana Bafana striker Benni McCarthy says.

Coach Stuart Baxter’s charges sparked furious debate after blowing a chance to top Group E of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers after being held to a goalless draw at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last weekend.

While McCarthy was at pains to avoid coming across as criticising Baxter‚ he said the bottom line was that the Briton needed help in putting together a competitive squad.

“Are we really picking the best players that we have available? That is my question‚” the Cape Town City coach said this week.

“I’m tired also‚ because after Saturday I thought‚ ‘Hey‚ there we go again, no Afcon for us’.

“Not doubting the players‚ but we just made it difficult for ourselves now‚ because if you don’t win your home games‚ [playing] away from home is not going to be easy and we have Nigeria coming [for the return leg].

“They’re going to want to overturn us beating them there and if that doesn’t go our way‚ then what do we do?

“Again‚ we [would] watch on our TVs and SuperSport gathers all the legends or all the ex-players to come and commentate on the African Nations Cup without Bafana.”

Libya remain on top with four points on goal difference after two matches‚ ahead of Bafana, who have the same number of points.

Nigeria are third with three points‚ with Seychelles in the basement with no points.

The top two will qualify for the tournament to be hosted by Cameroon.

“I think they have to maybe even go to the extent where they help coach Stuart, you know‚ because he can’t be eyes on every game‚” McCarthy said.

“I’ve seen him at a [Kaizer] Chiefs game‚ I’ve seen him at a SuperSport [United] game and I’ve seen him at a [Bidvest] Wits game.

“I’ve not seen him watching a Free State Stars game [and] I’ve not seen him watching a Bloem Celtic game.

“They [Celtic] are high flyers‚ what are they doing right there?

“Go and watch there to see what players are on form‚ you understand.

“It’s not a job for one man. I think he needs help from coaches in the league to identify players that are in form.

“And I’m not too sure if that was our best XI that was put out.

“I’m not too sure and maybe the coach [Baxter] would disagree with me from what he’s seen that week at training.”

Bafana’s next qualifier is against Seychelles at home next month.