April 1 – South Africa have sacked their coach Molefi Ntseki after Bafana Bafana failed to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Ntseki’s dismissal came as no surprise. On Sunday, South Africa had slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Sudan in Omdurman, a defeat that saw them miss out on yet another continental finals. In the past decade, South Africa have only participated in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, when they hosted, and in 2019.
In the wake of the recent elimination, the South African Football Association (SAFA) felt compelled to release Ntseki. The former U-17 national team coach replaced Stuart Baxter in late August 2019. He had served as an assistant to Baxter.
With the 2022 World Cup group stage qualifiers around the corner in May and June, SAFA will need to act fast to appoint a replacement. It is understood that the federation will be looking for a more senior coach, with AmaZulu coach and Bafana’s all-time leading scorer Benni McCarthy and Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane among the names cited as potential candidates.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1713615882labto1713615882ofdlr1713615882owedi1713615882sni@o1713615882fni1713615882