Bafana Bafana are under pressure to collect all three points as they play their second Afcon qualifying match against South Sudan.
The South African men’s senior national football side’s temperament will be put to the test as they finalise preparations ahead of their second group stage match in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Bafana Bafana will take the field against South Sudan at the Juba National Stadium on Tuesday in a 3pm kick-off with ambitions of securing a valuable three points. Bafana, initially the favourites to finish at the top of Group K, have placed themselves under slight pressure even at this early stage after they failed to dispose of a lowly Uganda side last Friday.
The 24-year-old midfielder, Thalente Mbatha, came off the bench to rescue a point for Bafana at the Orlando Stadium.
To make matters worse, Congo-Brazzaville were able to topple their opponents South Sudan in their opener and are currently in pole position in the group.
Bafana Bafana 🇿🇦 vs 🇸🇸 South Sudan #BafanaPride #AFCONQualifier
Where to tune in tomorrow…. 📺 📻 pic.twitter.com/atNPww7S1x
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) September 9, 2024
A total of 24 teams will qualify for the 2025 Afcon in Morocco, meaning first and second place in the group will guarantee participation but head coach Hugo Broos is not expected to take risks with his side.
Broos insisted that his side will look to rectify the missed opportunities in front of goal from the first game having dropped two points last time out.
“The game against Uganda is one we would normally win because they didn’t create many chances and scored the second goal off a mistake by our keeper while we created four or five other chances,” he said on Monday.
“We will see how the game goes and how we sharpen ourselves but it’s a game we have to win.”
The bullish Belgian-born mentor has been very clear about his targets to have the nation qualify for every major competition during his tenure and with his contract running out in 2026, the next Afcon and 2026 World Cup are next on his priority list.
Having made several changes to his line-up in the first opening match due to either injuries or loss of form, Broos is expected to make more following a few disappointing showings in Orlando.
The absence of captain and regular No.1 Ronwen Williams has placed Bafana in a precarious position after stand-in Veli Mothwa’s horrendous mistakes last time out.
The jury is out on whether Broos will opt for the in-form Sipho Chaine of Orlando Pirates or whether he will place his faith in the experienced palms of SuperSport United’s Ricardo Goss.
“We will try to find a solution on Tuesday … and certainly not starting to doubt this one or that one but you can be sure there will be changes in the team, that’s for sure,” Broos said after the Uganda clash.
Although not known to succumb to any forces, Broos is also expected to make calls on whether to throw 19-year-old Relebohile Mofokeng into the starting line-up after his impressive 17-minute cameo against the Cranes.
Mofokeng and his Pirates teammate Mbatha offered Bafana a different dimension after coming on and have given the experienced boss food for thought.
Bafana are currently on a confidence-boosting six-game unbeaten run after encounters with the likes of Algeria, and Nigeria in recent months.
Broos and his men have also lost two, won six and drawn four of the past 12 games they’ve played, records going back to the Africa Cup of Nations in January.
