How Pitso Mosimane Built a Dynasty with Mamelodi Sundowns

It was October 2011. Just over a year on from having the biggest football party on their doorstep and making history by becoming the first African country to host a FIFA World Cup, Pitso Mosimane’s South Africa were going into the final round of qualifiers for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

A shock 2-1 defeat in Niger the month before had meant that a win was needed at home to Sierra Leone to guarantee a spot in the finals. The issue was that South Africa didn’t know that they needed a win. Mosimane set his side up for a draw as the South African FA were under the illusion that goal difference would be used to separate them and Niger at the top of the group, not head to head. 

What ended up happening was a national embarrassment. 

At the same time, Egypt comfortably beat Niger 3-0 which swung the goal difference between Niger and South Africa at the top of Group G but not the head to head so a draw wasn’t going to be enough for South Africa. They needed a win against Sierra Leone, except for some reason, nobody seemed to know that.