PORT ELIZABETH (South Africa), Sept 7: South African stand-in captain Benni McCarthy said he believed the country would still to produce a competitive team at the 2010 World Cup finals despite another setback on Saturday.A 1-0 defeat by Nigeria left them third in their group, dealing a bodyblow to their hopes of qualifying for the African Nations Cup finals in Angola earlier in 2010.

“By 2010 this team will be ready,” McCarthy said after a performance that was a marked improvement on their last games despite the defeat.

McCarthy was stand-in as captain for his Blackburn Rovers team mate Aaron Mokoena, suspended for the Group Four qualifier.

“On a bumpy pitch it was difficult but we took the game to another level. The country is obviously very disappointed but there can be satisfaction with the football they saw us play.

This is good for the future and for the World Cup,” he said.

South Africa had countless chances in the game but lost to a 70th-minute goal from Kalu Uche.

“I am deeply disappointed on probably the biggest day in my career, selected as captain for a really important game,”

McCarthy added.

“I was never so proud of putting on the Bafana Bafana shirt as I was today, the football we displayed was memorable, the players gave everything.

“We out-played, out-ran, out-thought Nigeria. Only God knows how he made them victorious today.”

There has been widespread concern in South Africa that they will not have a competitive team for the World Cup, which would put a damper on staging a successful tournament.—Reuters