By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 6, 2024
Former South Africa under-23 star Junior Khanye believes that Bafana Bafana’s 2023 Afcon campaign is ‘over’ as they prepare to face Nigeria.
Bafana Bafana needed a penalty shootout victory to get past Cape Verde in the Afcon quarter-finals on Saturday.
They won 2-1 in the penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time with captain Ronwen Williams being the hero of the penalty shootout by saving four penalties.
Bafana will now meet Nigeria in the semi-finals but Khanye is convinced Hugo Broos’ men will not prevail judging from their outing against Cape Verde.
“We have to be realistic, we were not at our best,” Khanye told iDiski TV.
“We didn’t play well. We could have lost that game. But, luckily, we were very lucky. And listen, I’m saying we were very lucky, but we also need to give to Ronwen Williams some credit.
“He was the star of the show and saved those penalties very well, we have to give credit to him for that. But, when it comes to playing, we were terrible. We were defending too much,” he added.
“I think yesterday’s game was our worst at the tournament when I look at the other matches. I don’t think that we were at our best, any team can beat us. Look at the chances that Cape Verde created, it’s all luck.
“Any of those chances could have easily gone in. But again, we have to say thank you for our defence. They did a very important job despite Cape Verde creating chances. It’s over for us. As I said, we are lucky to be where we are at the moment,” continued the ex-Kaizer Chiefs star.
“Nigeria is going to beat us, and that’s when we will get a wake-up call. I’m not saying this because I’m being negative, but it’s just me stating facts.
“I love Bafana Bafana, and I want to see them doing well. But, this is our last game, those guys [Nigeria] are going to punish us.”
Khanye’s remarks are the same as those made by Bafana coach Hugo Broos.
Despite reaching the semi-finals, the Belgian admitted they played the worst game of the tournament.
Source Punch Ng
Posted February 6, 2024
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