Korhogo, Ivory Coast – After a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Mali in their opening AFCON Group E clash, Bafana Bafana defender Siyanda Xulu has opened up.
Bafana would have hoped to start off on a bright note, but two quick goals in three minutes sunk them at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium.
Xulu has since acknowledged the difficulties faced against a physically imposing opponent but highlighted areas for improvement moving forward. “It wasn’t as easy as we thought it might be,” Xulu admitted.
“Playing a massive country like Mali always comes with its challenges.” Despite acknowledging the pre-match expectations, Xulu emphasised the team’s adherence to their game plan of ball possession and creating chances.
However, the SuperSport United defender conceded that Mali’s physical strength proved a decisive factor especially in the second half. “Most of the battles, they win it because they’re a physical side. We knew we couldn’t compete with them physically, so we tried to move the ball quickly.”
WHAT XULU THINKS ABOUT THE NAMIBIA CLASH
While disappointed with the outcome, Xulu remained optimistic about the team’s fighting spirit. “We showed that we wanted to win against a great side like Mali. Going forward, we just need to take our chances,” he said.
Looking ahead to the next game against Namibia on Sunday, Xulu believes replicating the strong performance of the first half throughout the entire match is key. “If we can manage to do that, everything will be possible,” he concluded, insisting they aim for a positive turnaround in Bafana’s AFCON campaign.
The southern African neighbours meet on Sunday night at the same venue in what could be a decisive encounter for both nations.
A loss for Bafana would spell the end of the AFCON campaign, while for the Brave Warriors, it would be passage to the next round of the competition.
Namibia beat Tunisia 1-0 courtesy of a Dion Hotto strike on Tuesday evening, their first win in the continental soccer showpiece.
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