Go get them, Bafana
Nothing but a victory will do for South Africans against north-east Africans
● Bafana Bafana will adopt an aggressive approach from the get-go when they take on Sudan in their second 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Orlando Stadium this afternoon. Kick-off is 3pm.
Molefi Ntseki’s men need a victory following a losing start to their campaign when they lost the opening qualifying match away to Ghana 2-0 in Cape Coast on Thursday night.
Ntseki is under no illusions. Nothing but a win will do for SA when they take the second step of a six-match crusade on the road to Cameroon 2021.
“We’re fully aware that for them coming here after winning 4-0 (against Sao Tome Principle in Sudan) the point will be enough,” said the Bafana coach in the team’s hotel in Rosebank yesterday morning.
“They will be more defensive, and being defensive for them, among others, will include the delaying tactics.”
To avoid enduring all that tactical nonsense, Ntseki said Bafana must take the game by the scruff of its neck from the referee’s first whistle.
“Let’s start the game on the front foot and put them under pressure. If we get an early goal I think it will work for us. The confidence will also be boosted.
“And again, playing at home, we can’t have the situation of not taking the game to them. We have to because we have to win this match. We have to be very offensive.”
Ntseki said changes can be expected to be made in the team that could not defend the long-range strikes by Atletico Madrid midfielder Jonathan Partey and young Mohammed Kudus in either half of the tie against Ghana.
“We believe in the 25 players that we selected and believe each one of them have the chance of playing tomorrow,” said Ntseki without divulging the specific alterations he will make.
“There will be changes based on the plan that we want to execute tomorrow. The changes will be based on the tactics and need to refresh certain departments.”
Ntseki also revealed that the team spent some time on Friday night having a briefing from the two coaches, Cavin Johnson and Walter Steenbok, that he sent to watch the Sudanese game in Khartoum on Wednesday night.
“When we looked at Sudan, offensively they are very mobile,” said Ntseki.
“In our assessment when we looked at the team and our defence and we have the ability to deal with their offensive qualities. We’ve also got very skilful players that can really cause havoc in their defence.”
With that confidence and the fact that Bafana won both their only previous meetings — the two 2015 Afcon qualifying matches against the Sudanese, 3-0 away and 2-1 in Durban — Bafana have to collect their first three points of Group C today.
The Sudan team that Bafana will be playing will be a totally different proposition, having won some of their recent matches on the road.
The North Africans, who arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday, have been revitalised and won all their last three away matches against Madagascar (3-1), Chad (3-1) and Tanzania (1-0) under their Croatian coach Zdravko Logarusic.
Among their key players there’s Tottenham Hotspur youngster Mowafaq Aadil and right-winger Yasin Hamed, who is playing for Sepsi Gheorghe in Romania.
Ntseki’s changes today might include the big Bafana striker Lebo Mothiba, who couldn’t help the team when he came on for Bradley Grobler in the second half on Thursday.
Mothiba looked fresh and raring to go when he spoke yesterday about the importance of winning today’s game.
“We don’t have pressure,” said Mothiba of the game that will certainly rattle everyone if Bafana fail to translate their promise into a win today.
“We must just play our football because we know how to play. The coach also is doing a great job, we just have to continue and stay focused and forget Ghana’s game. I have confidence that we’re going to do it.”
But Ntseki cannot afford even a draw in what will be his second official match after taking over from Stuart Baxter in September. Certain quarters are still questioning his appointment.
A change in the starting XI, starting with the defence, where a once reliable Bidvest Wits trio of Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sifiso Hlanti and Buhle Mkhwanazi didn’t look convincing on Thursday, could be vital for Ntseki.
Kamohelo Mokotjo, who missed Thursday’s game because of fatigue, may come back to shore up the midfield with Mothiba paired with Percy Tau up front.
We don’t have pressure. We must just play our football because we know how to play
Lebo Mothiba
Bafana Bafana striker