Algeria set to put coach Igesund’s Dream Team to the test
BAFANA BAFANA will face a stern test when they take on Algeria tomorrow at the Orlando Stadium in their final warm-up game before the African Cup of Nations (Afcon) kicks off next weekend.
Algeria are currently the secondhighest ranked African nation behind Ivory Coast and are ranked a respectable 19th in the Fifa world rankings – 68 places above Bafana.
Algeria are also taking part in Afcon and have been drawn in what many would call the “Group of Death” alongside the Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Togo.
The Soweto friendly will also serve as Algeria’s final warm-up game before they face Tunisia in their opening match on January 22.
A full-strength Desert Warriors team can be expected in Soweto and will include Spain-based attacking midfielder Sofiane Feghouli.
Feghouli, 23, has been in impressive form for Valencia this season, scoring six goals in 13 games, and has attracted the interest of major clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool.
Both Algeria and Bafana will, however, be coming off losses to European opposition following respective defeats to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Norway.
Bafana coach Gordon Igesund has said the Algeria match will be a good test for his team as they put the finishing touches to their Afcon preparations.
Igesund and his Bafana side will be working hard on their attacking play after creating a slew of chances against Norway on Tuesday with no reward.
Bafana striker Katlego Mphela said: “It was bad that we didn’t win against Norway but we are working hard as a team and I know things will be alright in the tournament. What we need is the support from the supporters, they should come to the stadium like they did in Cape Town.”
Igesund, meanwhile, took issue with the fact that a section of supporters at Cape Town stadium on Tuesday booed Mphela.
“There is a great vibe out there, but I don’t think it’s from everybody at the moment,” Igesund said yesterday.
“To get a crowd behind you, they (the crowd) have to be realistic and support. The fans are not supporting Katlego Mphela at the moment.
“Players are human beings. When a player has the support of the crowd, the player wants to get into the opposition area again and again.
“When the crowd start booing and start saying things, the player starts thinking negatively and he no longer gets into the area, he starts hiding.”
Mphela, nicknamed Killer, only returned to action recently after a long injury lay-off and he received support from ex-Bafana striker Philemon Masinga.
“I don’t think anybody can take anything away from Katlego Mphela; he is one of the best out there and his scoring rate is phenomenal,” Masinga said.
“Even on Tuesday, he came close to scoring and he was only back for six weeks. He has played only two games for Sundowns, and you can see he is not that sharp.”