Fightbacks give Baxter some hope

Stuart Baxter believes the character Bafana Bafana showed in coming back to draw with both Nigeria and Paraguay can give them plenty of hope heading into March’s final Group E 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Libya.

Bafana will have to take at least a point away from home against the Mediterranean Knights if they are to make it to Cameroon 2019. It is hardly an ideal situation, particularly after Bafana had looked in pole position at the start of the campaign, winning their opening qualifier in Nigeria.

Baxter’s side have, however, managed just one Afcon qualifying win since, at home to the Seychelles, and will have to play well against Libya, who got a draw in Durban and are coming off the back of an impressive 8-1 win in the Seychelles.

Baxter, however, took heart from the fact that Bafana fought back to draw with Nigeria on Saturday at FNB Stadium, and then earned a draw in the Nelson Mandela Challenge against Paraguay, with Percy Tau (right) netting a stoppage time equaliser.

“We gave away an own goal against Nigeria, and we kept going, we we gave away a very poor goal against a team like Paraguay, and we kept going. In both games we got back to 1-1, we will need that sort of spirit in Libya,” said Baxter.

“We have done that against Paraguay and Nigeria and those are two very good teams who have been to World Cups. Without paying Libya scant respect, they have never been to the World Cup. What they have going for them is the fact that Libya is a war zone and they are all together in Tunisia and know each other very well. But they need to win and to come at us, which is why we have been working so hard on our transition play. We have a good chance (to qualify) ... we only have a good chance if we play well, but I think the boys have a lot of belief that they can go to Libya, in an intimidating atmosphere, and produce a good performance and result.”

Bafana do not have any official games organised between now and March, but Baxter is hopeful that they can get some kind of practice in. ““We have to arrange some sort of practice games, because we are also going to get some of our injured players back.”