Komphela: ex-Chiefs coach has a point to prove

Stuart Baxter warned of the dangers of underestimating Libya, as he named his squad yesterday for a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 8 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Bafana are already in a great position to qualify from Group E, after springing a big surprise by beating Nigeria 2-0 in Uyo way back in June 2018, especially as the top two sides in the group will go into the expanded tournament in Cameroon next June.

South Africa, however, do have a habit of losing to sides they are expected to beat in key qualifying matches – under Baxter, Bafana were beaten home and away by Cape Verde in their feeble attempt to qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.

Libya have only ever appeared in three Africa Cup of Nations finals, the last back in 2012, but they have shown signs of improvement in recent years.

“It strikes me that we talk about Libya not having qualified for this and that, but at the moment, when you look at global football, the ‘names’ of countries are becoming less and less important.

“Iceland, only four or five years ago were no-hopers (they played in their first World Cup finals this year), and on this continent we get constant surprises,” said Baxter.

“This Libyan team are more of a club team, because of the wartorn country they are from, they are almost constantly in camp together, affording their coach a lot of time to prepare.

“I would (also) suggest in all humility that it is not a strength of South Africa to take on countries that on paper are not the greatest on the planet.”

Baxter has made plenty of changes to the squad from his last major qualifiers, back-toback World Cup matches against Senegal last November. He noted how the average age of his squad had dropped “18 months”, with the likes of Siphesihle Ndlovu and Lebo Mothiba coming in after impressing in the Cosafa Cup.