Mark Gleeson BBC Sport

McCarthy has 51 Bafana Bafana caps

South Africa Football Association officials were left with plenty of egg on their faces after Wednesday's friendly international in Tunisia.

They handed the captain's armband to Benni McCarthy in recognition of his 50th appearance for Bafana Bafana.

But they had got their sums wrong! The match was actually the 51st in national team colours for McCarthy.

The fiery striker passed the 50-cap mark on Saturday when he scored for South Africa in their 2-1 defeat by Egypt in Cairo.

He is one of only 10 players who have played more than 50 games for the 1996 Africans champions.

Central defender Lucas Radebe of Leeds United is the most capped South African international with 70 caps.

McCarthy also became the 20th player to captain the team, who have now had 11 different skippers in the last three years.

But the match did not hold any memorable moments for the Portuguese-based striker, who wasted two half chances as Bafana Bafana lost 2-0.

South Africa played aimlessly in a dismal performance and had two players sent off late in the match to add to their woes.

Saul Molapo was sent off for a two-footed tackle and Tony Coyle after picking up a second yellow card.

Germany-based striker Najeh Brahim scored on the breakaway to give Tunisia the lead just before half-time.