Mosimane faced questions before kick-off about the number of Mamelodi Sundowns players in the squad. After the match some fans complained that South Africa were not clinical enough in front of goal. Palacios told Kick Off the coach should be left to do his job.
“How Pitso puts out in the line-up it’s decided by Pitso, he is the coach, and it got nothing to do with me as a spectator,” Palacios said. “We need to support whichever player our coach picks to represent Bafana Bafana. If he makes mistakes he will correct them. The man in charge is Pitso Mosimane.”
He argued that qualifiers are decided by points, not style. “Bafana Bafana is his responsibility, what you need in qualifiers is three points, and he did what was necessary by collecting the three points. You can play beautiful football and still lose points. So, what is important here is the result. The guy he is experienced, they must just allow him to do his job. It’s normal for people to criticise.”
Palacios praised the response after Guinea equalised. Ime Okon had given South Africa the lead. Seydouba Cissé levelled. Substitute Samukele Kabini scored the winner. “The quick reaction from Pitso’s team after Guinea equalised was very impressive for me. After all the qualifiers are played, the first thing we will be looking for is to see if we qualified not how we played.”
Mosimane himself had said finishing remains “our South African problem.” Kenya, as co-hosts of AFCON 2027, are already through from Group D. Only one of South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea will join them. Bafana sit on three points after one match. Eritrea host South Africa later in the window.
Palacios, who has previously backed Mosimane’s recall of Luther Singh, said support should follow the three points, not the debate over club colours.