Disappointing to miss AFCON and World Cup – Former South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar

Ghana defeated South Africa 1-0 at Cape Coast to pick the sole ticket in Group G of the African FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers – later going on to beat Nigeria in March to seal qualification for the global showpiece.

Bafana Bafana also missed the chance to qualify for the 2021 AFCON which was held in Cameroon from January to February earlier this year.

“It is disappointing if your country is not playing in the African Cup of Nations or qualifying for the World Cup,” Pienaar told the Made in Africa podcast, as quoted by Soccer Laduma.

“In the last couple of years, there has been a few problems with managers coming in, the development of young players not going as planned.”

“If you look back at the last year, a new manager came in; he wants to build a young team. He showed it in the qualification games for the World Cup with young players, ones who want to work and have the desire to represent the country.

“Unfortunately, he didn’t qualify for the World Cup through circumstances but I think he is building a young team that will be there for the next few years and there are some good talents coming through.”