Pitso rallies support for Tau after Mali loss

Former Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has come out in support of striker Percy Tau who missed a penalty during Bafana Bafana's 2-0 defeat to Mali in the AFCON.  

South Africa's AFCON title ambitions suffered a major setback as goals from Mali's Hamari Traore and Lassine Sinayoki handed Mali three points to go top of Group E while Bafana slipped to the bottom. 

READ | Broos weighs in on Bafana's penalty drama

Despite starting strongly, Bafana failed to make use of their chances, including being awarded a penalty in the 17th minute of the match when Evidence Makgopa was adjudged to have been fouled in the box.

Tau sent his effort over the bar.

Mosimane, responding to footage of Tau addressing the missed penalty in his post-match interview in the mixed zone posted on X (formerly Twitter), expressed his support of Tau.

"Real men are not shy to apologise. We have to move on, and we can still qualify beyond the group stages," Mosimane wrote.

"We have to play the same or better than the way we played in the first half.

"Beside the penalty you missed, your aggressive forward runs were threatening and gave Mali problems."

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Tau and Mosimane won the CAF Champions League twice together, once at Mamelodi Sundowns and the second time at Al Ahly.

Tau also received back from head coach Hugo Broos who insisted that the Al Ahly attacker should not be blamed for missing his spot-kick.

"I think Teboho [Tau] took this responsibility and we can't blame him for that, certainly not because taking a penalty is not easy. But it changed the game," Broos said during his post-match press conference.

Next up for Bafana is a group stage clash against Namibia on Sunday. Kick-off is at 22:00.

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