South Africa's dismal showing at the African Nations Cup in Egypt has earned a stinging rebuke from President Thabo Mbeki.
South Africa, who will host the 2010 World Cup, have lost group games against Guinea and Tunisia. They play Zambia later on Monday, but cannot qualify for the quarter-finals.
"I say they did not try to ensure that our country becomes a winning nation. We cannot be a losing nation in a way that Bafana Bafana lost in Egypt," Mbeki said in a speech on Sunday to an African National Congress Youth League event in Kroonstad.
Mbeki's comments, replayed on television and covered by local newspapers on Monday, have added to the growing discontent surrounding the national side.
South Africa also failed to qualify for this year's World Cup finals in Germany.