Different Bafana to line up in the final

Tried and tested to face Zambia

The Bafana Bafana team that will face Zambia in tomorrow’s four-nations final will be completely different from the one that beat Angola 6-5 on penalties in the semifinals in midweek.

Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has confirmed that he will have a new team for the decider at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Sunday (6pm).

“The team that will play in the final will be a completely different team; it will be 11 different players,” he said.

Indications are that Baxter will go with his tried and tested players who didn’t play against the Angolans.

They include goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune, and defenders Ramahlwe Mphahlele and Thulani Hlatshwayo.

Baxter is then likely to complete his defence with left-back Innocent Maela and centreback Daniel Cardoso, who’s been one of the standout performers in the PSL this season.

In midfield, Kamohelo Mokotjo may partner young Teboho Mokoena, while Keagan Dolly and Thembinkosi Lorch may be deployed on the wings. Percy Tau and Sibusiso Vilakazi are set to start upfront. Vilakazi came off the bench to replace Bongani Zungu with just four minutes remaining against Angola.

Despite the wholesale changes, which may affect their rhythm, Baxter is still expecting a win against the Zambians in their own backyard. “We need this game and we will do everything we can to win,” he added.

Zambia reached the final by beating Zimbabwe 5-4 on penalties after their match finished 2-2 in regulation time.

Orlando Pirates striker Justin Shonga was one of the scorers against The Warriors, and he’s one player Bafana cannot afford to give free space in the final even with the ever reliable Khune in goal.

Shonga, 21, scored a brace as Zambia beat Bafana 2-0 in their African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier late last year. There is very little that separates the two countries since their first meeting in 1992.

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‘ ‘ We need this game ... we’ll do everything we can to win

/SIDNEY MUNGALA/ BACKPAGEPIX Bafana Bafana players react during the penalty shootout against Angola which they won 6-5 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Wednesday. Bafana will now meet hosts Zambia in the four-nations tournament’s final on Sunday.