Coach Baxter: Bafana need cool heads
MENTAL: BAXTER EXPECTS ‘EMOTIONAL’ GAME IN SFAX
More than one way of winning a game, says Bafana Bafana coach.
S tuart Baxter believes the team that can keep a cool head in Sfax, Tunisia, on Sunday will have the edge, as Bafana Bafana take on Libya for a place at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
Bafana need only one point to go through, while Libya need a win, but the Bafana coach insists his side will not be playing for a draw, with the game played on neutral territory because of the civil war in Libya.
“It will be a very passionate and emotional type of game,” said Baxter yesterday after Bafana training.
“The team that deals best with the mental situation will have a great advantage.
“I expect Libya to be fired up, to play passionate football, but they can’t attack like crazy in case we sneak one, and we can’t just sit and defend.
“South Africa is a team that wants to win every game and there is more than one way of winning a game.
“We have to take into consideration what we think Libya will do but we don’t want to just come and sit and play for a draw.”
If Bafana do find the back of the net – and goals will only help their progress to Egypt – then Lebo Mothiba could well be the provider.
He was not in the team when Bafana managed a goalless draw with Libya at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last year.
“I know Libya now are preparing very hard for us, because this is the game that will decide which team is going to the Afcon,” said Mothiba.
“This is my first time to play Libya … we must just keep focused and working hard at training, listen to the coach’s instructions and do our best.”
Bafana have been training in capital Tunis, and will move to Sfax tomorrow to finalise preparations for Sunday’s game.
Kick off is 7pm SA time.