Williams calls on Bafana to learn their lesson and take down Liberia

Ronwen Williams has called on Bafana Bafana to learn from the mistakes they made at home as they bid to beat Liberia on Tuesday evening in Monrovia and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals.

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Bafana will take on the West African side at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium, in front of a hostile home crowd, on an artificial pitch of unknown quality, needing three points to make the Afcon finals in the Ivory Coast early next year.

Liberia will knock Bafana out of qualification, however, if they can beat Hugo Broos’ side, having come from behind to earn a 2-2 draw at Orlando Stadium on Friday, making Bafana’s task all-the-more difficult in Monrovia.

“We were very disappointed,” said Williams of the result at Orlando Stadium.

“We were in the driving seat and things were looking good, especially going into half time (Bafana were 2-0 up at the break).

“But we were even more disappointed because the coach noted to us (at half time) that we needed to be serious and to not take the game lightly, that they could come back and would throw everything at us.

“The coach is experienced and he knew what he was talking about and we are disappointed because we allowed Liberia back into the game.

“We created so many chances so this is a learning curve for us. You have to play for 95 minutes, it is not only about one half, hopefully we will learn our lesson and won’t repeat the same mistakes.”

Broos, meanwhile, rejected suggestions that Liberia had surprised Bafana in the way they played in Orlando.

No surprises

“The Liberian team did not surprise us, we let them come into the game,” said Broos.

“In the second half we were less aggressive …. so the spaces were bigger than in the first half. Liberia took advantage, they have good players … we have to be careful but again it is most important to believe in ourselves and our qualities. If we can make the same performance as we did in the first half (in Orlando), but for 90 minutes and more, we can win (on Tuesday).

“It is up to us not to make the same mistakes and beging the game ready and not let the Liberians think it is possible for them (to win). But I can say that from my chair, that is easy, we have to do it (on the pitch).”