Baxter: South Africa players have to perform at AFCON

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Jun 08, 2019. 12:00

South Africa head coach Stuart Baxter has admitted that his side is under pressure ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.

Many South Africans will be hoping that the British tactician guides Bafana Bafana to their second AFCON title.

However, Bafana find themselves in a tough group which features former winners, Morocco and Ivory Coast as well as Namibia.

Baxter discussed the pressure that comes with competing in an international tournament.

“I hope that we can do something in AFCON that will make people believe that our football is moving in the right direction,” Baxter told the media.

“For me, the pressure is there all the time, it’s not just there because someone says that we need to make the nation happy. The players have to perform.

“I think once we start to get it working to the needs of the game, it will be an asset but I can agree with people that sometimes it looks a little bit disjointed at the moment but I think as with everything, the teething problems we will get over that.”

Egypt will host the 2019 AFCON finals between June 21 and July 19.