Don’t underrate Libya, warns Baxter

Bafana Bafana players have the tendency to underestimate less renowned African opponents, but coach Stuart Baxter wants that mentality to change in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya in Durban.

What will also help Baxter in his quest to prepare well for the qualifier at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on September 8 is to do thorough homework on Libya‚ the team that he claims “is more like a club team because of a wartorn country they are from”.

Baxter‚ announcing his squad on Tuesday‚ said of the Libyans‚ who thrashed Seychelles 5-1 in their Group E opening qualifier in June: “They are almost always in camp together, affording their coach a lot of time to prepare the team.

“I have seen this team give Morocco a real scare. They are a well-organised team.

“Maybe not with the household names that Cameroon‚ Senegal or Ivory Coast have‚ but this is a well-aligned team‚ which will present a real challenge for us.

“I would suggest‚ with a little bit of humility‚ that it’s not been a strength of South Africa to take these countries that, on paper, are not the greatest on the continent seriously.

“We need to start knowing that names mean nothing any more‚ but performances mean something.

“We have got to try to make sure that we give the sort of performance that will give us the three points.

“This is certainly a Libyan team that is capable.”

Bafana squad

Goalkeepers

Itumeleng Khune‚ Ronwen Williams‚ Darren Keet

Defenders

Ramahlwe Mphahlele‚ Motjeka Madisha‚ Siyanda Xulu‚ Thulani Hlatshwayo‚ Innocent Maela‚ Sifiso Hlanti‚ Buhle Mkhwanazi

Midfielders

Dean Furman‚ Siphesihle Ndlovu‚ Hlompho Kekana‚ Bongani Zungu‚ Teboho Mokoena‚ Kamohelo Mokotjo‚ Sibusiso Vilakazi

Forwards

Themba Zwane‚ Keagan Dolly‚ Percy Tau‚ Lebohang Mothiba‚ Bradley Grobler