Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Overview

The Amakhosi coach spent some time away from Naturena amid mounting pressure on him and his co-coach despite the Soweto giants securing two victories just before the FIFA international break. He is expected to return refreshed and relieved, armed with fresh ideas to build on that momentum.

We ask the question whether the Belgian tactician is still the right man to lead South Africa to the World Cup? Or has his time at the helm of the national team come to a natural end after a series of questionable decisions around the make up of his squad and the First XI choices he made at the biennial tournament?

South Africa's coach firmly defended his tactical and squad choices by pointing out they had three 'open' chances to score in the first half hour of the Round of 16 clash with the Indomitable Lions but failure to capitalise on those chances meant his side was vulnerable to conceding and losing the match.

Why, with such an abundance of talent at home and across its diaspora, do Ghana’s Black Stars fall short on football’s biggest stages?