{
  "id": 10031191,
  "title": "Pitso praises team effort as Bafana sink Guinea",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/pitso-praises-team-effort-as-bafana-sink-guinea",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T17:38:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/sport/soccer/pitso-praises-team-effort-bafana-sink-guinea/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pitso Mosimane, Bafana Bafana's head coach, praised the team's effort in their 2-1 victory over Guinea in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D match at the Orlando Amstel Arena. Mosimane acknowledged that the South African team needs to improve their chances conversion rate, stating, \"The South African challenge is that we don’t score easily.\" However, he was satisfied with the overall performance that secured a crucial three points at home against a formidable opponent. Paulo Duarte's side posed significant challenges, and Guinea nearly equalized through Seydouba Cisse in the 69th minute. It was Samukele Kabini's 77th-minute strike that sealed the win for Bafana in Mosimane's return as head coach.\n\nMosimane commended Guinea's level and quality, questioning why the team has not qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in recent years. The coach also highlighted the importance of the home advantage, noting that Bafana started well and maintained a good mentality throughout the match. Bafana pressed early on, winning back possession and creating numerous opportunities. While the team missed several chances, Mosimane emphasized that they created enough chances to be concerned about. The coach specifically praised Ime Okon and Olwethu Makhanya's center-back pairing, expressing satisfaction with their performance and Makhanya's first senior international goal.\n\nMosimane concluded by reiterating the need for the team to score more effectively, stating, \"We score two out of six chances maybe.\" However, he emphasized the positive aspects of their game, praising the team's desire to play, fight, and press.",
  "summary": "'We had the right mentality, we wanted to play and fight and press,' said the Bafana head coach after his side's 2-1 win over Guinea.",
  "key_points": [
    "Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane praises team effort in 2-1 win over Guinea.",
    "South African team needs to improve conversion rate, Mosimane notes.",
    "Samukele Kabini's 77th-minute goal secures crucial three points at home."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Pitso Mosimane defends wasteful Bafana: ‘You can’t complain when you’re creating chances’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/pitso-mosimane-defends-wasteful-bafana-you-cant-complain-when-youre",
        "published": "2026-09-26T17:59:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}