"We are profoundly sorry for letting the nation down," South African FA (SAFA) President Kirsten Nematandani told a news conference on Wednesday some 10 days after a failure to read the rules saw the country miss out on the 2012 finals.
South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane (pictured) believed they would top their group on goal difference and qualify if they drew at home with Sierra Leone but in fact their 0-0 draw earlier this month allowed unfancied Niger to finish first on their head-to-head results after the three teams finished on the same points.
But on Wednesday the domestic governing body said it had withdrawn the appeal. "Our best endeavor now is to make sure that this doesn't happen again," added Nematandani.
However, Mosimane continues to refuse interviews requests and did not attend Wednesday's news conference.
"We accepted his apology to the association and have undertaken to give him the support he needs to build Bafana Bafana into a winning team," SAFA Chief Executive officer Robin Petersen added.
They start in the second round next June against Botswana, the Central African Republic and the winner of next month's first round tie between Ethiopia and Somalia.
