Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has explained his decision to substitute Sphephelo Sithole at half-time against Zimbabwe.
Sithole had started along with Teboho Mokoena in the middle of the park just like in the Angola and Egypt clashes.
According to Broos, Sithole held his own defensively but struggled on the ball, with Bafana losing possession too often through the CD Tondela midfielder.
Bathusi Aubaas replaced him at halftime, and Broos felt the change added stability in the middle of the park.
“Yaya, defensively, he was okay but once he had the ball, he lost many balls also had bad passes,” Broos told SABC Sport.
“Almost every time when he had the ball, we would lose it to the opponents, then we had to do something.
“With Bathusi in the second half, it was better. We had the control of the ball, the passing was better and we played better also.
“Again, we brought ourselves in trouble and this is something that has to stop.”
Bafana booked their place in the Round of 16 together with Egypt from Group B and must now wait to find out who they will face next.