‘Bafana must show quality’

Captain, goalie upbeat after win against Nigeria

Bafana Bafana are keenly aware of the need to avoid a repeat of their epic choke against Cape Verde in last year’s World Cup qualifiers when they meet Libya at the same venue, Durban, in Saturday’s 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The South Africans, as they settled into their second training session yesterday at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, have spoken of a need to apply themselves and take nothing for granted against 101st-ranked Libya.

Bafana’s opening 2-0 away win against Nigeria more than a year ago, in June 2017, means that they can put themselves firmly in the driving seat to qualify for Cameroon 2019 by beating Libya at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Goalkeeper Ronwen Williams said SA are aware that a defeat against Libya would nullify the team’s hard work beating Nigeria.

“Nigeria are one of the powerhouses in Africa, and winning against them shows that we can beat anyone,” he said. “We need to take control of the group by winning our home games. If we win our home games it will put us on 12 points, and that will be enough.

“We need to stay focused and believe in ourselves. We haven’t done that in the past. We’ve got the qualify so it’s time that we show it on the field.

“We don’t want to go with a mindset that Libya should be beaten. That’s how we messed up last year.

“We need to take our home games seriously. If we go out there and beat someone 7-0, so be it. But we mustn’t go out with that attitude that anyone should be beaten.”

Captain Thulani Hlatshwayo said SA needed to focus.

‘‘ We need to take control of the Afcon group by winning our home games

“We’re obviously not happy to have had to sit at home watching Senegal and Nigeria playing at the World Cup [in Russia], knowing very well that we had beaten Nigeria away in the Afcon,” the Bidvest Wits defender said. “We need to make sure that we apply ourselves on Saturday.

“If we can win on Saturday, and beat Seychelles twice, by the time Nigeria come here [in November] we can have secured our place.”

Bafana’s three replacements – Orlando Pirates winger Vincent Pule, Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Tiyani Mabunda and SuperSport United utility player Maphosa Modiba – took part in yesterday’s training session.

Lebogang Mothiba’s hamstring tear was confirmed by his Ligue 1 club Strasbourg and Bafana coach Stuart Baxter has called up Bidvest Wits’ Mxolisi Macuphu as a like-forlike replacement for the big centre-forward.