Former Kaizer winger Junior Khanye has questioned the centre-back pairing of Siyanda Xulu and Mothobi Mvala following Bafana Bafana’s 2-0 loss to Mali at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday night.
Bafana enjoyed a better first half in their opening match in Group E but missed a penalty that most people believe could have made a big difference for South Africa.
The Malian goals came in the second half, the first after Mvala gave away a set-piece at the edge of the box and the other as a result of poor defending from Xulu.
Khanye says the two defenders aren’t compatible and did not even communicate against the West African side.
“I think we didn’t have combinations in sensitive positions, especially the two centre-backs Mothobi Mvala and Xulu,” Khanye said on iDiski TV.
“They were not even communicating, they even failed to defend throw-ins. I mean we were lucky at critical phases of the game like the end of the first half.
“I mean they couldn’t even read a throw-in, like have one of them mark and the other sweep the ball, they should talk to each other. That was a goal, if the goalkeeper didn’t save us with his feet.
“Both of them were on the ball and the ball was quick. It went over Siyanda [Xulu] who then pushed against Mothobi [Mvala] but the Malian player on sight was too casual and Ronwen saved us.
“It was a critical phase of the game the half was almost over.”
You can listen to Khanye’s full analysis of the match between Mali and South Africa on iDiski TV official YouTube channel.
