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* Mosimane sent packing after Ethiopia draw
* To be replaced by assistant
JOHANNESBURG, June 5 (Reuters) – South Africa fired national
soccer coach Pitso Mosimane on Tuesday in reaction to their
disappointing start to the World Cup qualifiers at the weekend.
Mosimane is the first victim of Africa’s qualifying campaign
for the 2014 finals in Brazil after his side were held to a 1-1
draw at home by Ethiopia, 71 places below them in the FIFA
rankings, in their opening Group A qualifier on Sunday.
The announcement by South Africa’s soccer governing body in
a statement on Tuesday came after a meeting with officials that
went on late into Monday night.
Mosimane had stated before the Ethiopia match that it was a
“must win” affair for his team.
The 47-year-old coach had been a beleaguered figure since
his horror error last year when he botched the calculations for
his side to qualify for the 2012 African Nations Cup finals.
South Africa were comfortably placed going into their last
group game at home but played for a draw and what they presumed
was top place by virtue of goal difference.
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