Frustrated coach Hugo Broos has urged his players to remain upbeat ahead of the crucial clash with the Rwandans, who are now out of the running after a late goal for Benin in Kigali took the latter clear at the top of the table.
South Africa must hope they can beat Rwanda and that Nigeria defeat Benin in Uyo, a pair of results which will see them qualify for the global finals. A draw for Benin would leave Bafana being victory by two clear goals to overtake their rivals on goals scored.
“It will be very important to see what happens in the game between Nigeria and Benin,” Broos said. “We will see what the result will be there. But on the other side, we don’t really have to look.
“If we win the game (against Rwanda) we will then see what happens. And that is the most important thing. It will not be easy, certainly not. But as long as it’s possible, you have to believe.
“I think we will be a little bit down for one or two days. But I will do everything to once again have a team that believes on Tuesday, one that will try to win the game with as many goals as possible because (the group) may be decided on goal difference.”
Bafana hit the post twice and had a shot cleared off the line against the Zimbabweans as they lacked the crucial goal. Broos bemoaned his side’s bad luck.
“I think we tried everything, we didn’t have the luck either, one moment on the ball line saved, one on the post, you also need a little bit of luck in such games and we didn’t have it in our side,” Broos said.
“We fight for it, we did everything, tried everything but you see a very motivated Zimbabwe team against us and we knew it would be tough, but that’s also football.
“It was not in our favour, Zimbabwe just played 20 metres in front of their goal and they tried a few times with the transitions.
“They were dangerous too, but this is something that’s very hard to accept certainly, it’s not lost totally but it will be very difficult now.”
Broos refused to blame his players for the result, which puts his side on the back foot in their bid to reach the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
“What can I say? I can’t blame my team, I can’t be angry, I’m just very disappointment that we couldn’t score the goal that we needed,” he said.
“We have to play again like today (against Rwanda) and try to win that game and see what happens."